foundation

Proverbs 14:1 says something that I need to hear regularly:

The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

Of course, this isn’t This Old House, and I’m not about to give anyone any tips on construction. There’s a scary thought!

No, this is about people, family, home. It’s about building lives.

Tonight, I read that verse again, and I’m struck by the fact that there’s constructive and there’s destructive — but there’s no neutral. Every single day, I am either building or tearing. Period. There’s no, “Eh, I don’t feel like going into work today,” option.

It’s a serious calling.

So, here we are, building this proverbial house, as mothers of young children. Guess what house building begins with? A foundation.

These first early years are all about the foundation — and boy, doesn’t it feel like it! There are plenty of days when I’m tempted to think, “Hey, for some funny reason I feel like there’s not much house-erection happening.” Or, “Wow, this feels about as productive as digging a hole in the ground and then filling it with rocks!” Maybe you’ve been there, too. You know. “When do we get to the pretty part??”

Not yet.

It’s time for digging.

We need to have a vision for these particular days of tender hearts. Wide open eyes. Minds full of wonder. These years that, when seen day by day, can seem so small and mundane — they have the potential to be life-changing. Here are these little lives, placed in our stewardship, and for a fleeting season, they are yet young. It’s time to dig.

It would be easy to discount sleepless nights and pb&j and favorite stories read for the thousandth time and have-I-taken-a-shower-today and holy cannoli. How did I get that far behind in laundry??… It would be easy to lose our way and begin to doubt the importance and meaning of such days.

Don’t doubt. Don’t. Yes, it’s dirt and rocks when viewed up close, but really? Really, it’s a deep, firm foundation.

It would be easy to go into auto-pilot. It would be easy to think, Later. I’ll do the real spiritual stuff later.

Don’t. Don’t miss it. This is it. We’ve got a house to build, and it’s foundation time.

Yes, we’re sinking rocks into holes. We’re seeds dying in the ground.

But when we live these small days as an offering to the Lord, with an eye to eternity, and with hearts eager to impart the gospel and our lives to our children, the Master Builder turns what seemed to be nothing into something.

I know. I was the 4 year old who saw Jesus in my mom’s smile, my dad’s worship. I fell in love with Jesus because I saw Him in them.

So don’t grow weary. Don’t try to skip it. Dig deep. Die completely.

He’s got a house in mind.


My beautiful mama, about to begin a long season of foundation laying.

*****

Related posts:

1. Hazy Days
2. The Lens of the Word
3. The Word + Being a Mama

4 Comments foundation

  1. Olga Moshopoulos

    Danica , you are a beautiful Mother to your little ones ,and a loving wife to your dear husband !! You have touched my heart with your writing, what an encouragement you must be to your family and friends! Really this is the woman on the 31st chapter of Proverbs! As you trust in Jesus He will lead you strengthen you lift you up and help you build the foundation on those precious lives that He trusted you, every day! God is a Faithful Father and His Mercies and Promises are new every morning! God Bless you and your sweet family. Love you , Olga.

    Reply
    1. Danica

      Olga, thank you so much for your kind words. Wow. God IS a Faithful Father, and how good it is to hear someone say that over my family. Thank you, thank you.

      Reply

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