Hallstatt, Austria
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-27
Many years ago, I was a young, lonely missionary living in Vienna, Austria. German had rung in my ears for hours each day as I attended a language class every day. New to the language, I would often get my sentences wrong and so people would end up shouting at me or speaking at a very high pitch, somehow thinking I would understand better if they yelled. I was not deaf–just not good at the language.
Plotting a getaway, so that I could temporarily flee from the stress of my week, I planned a weekend retreat at a little mountain town in the Austrian Alps with my best friend. Mounting a train with books, chocolate, a back pack and jammies, we snuggled into the warm compartment as we swayed back and forth through the ominous, gigantic giants towering over us.
Finally, we were told to get out of the train. Before us was merely a small trail leading down to a crystal mountain lake. The conductor pushed us forward as though he knew what he was doing. We scrambled down the thin, weather-beaten stairs, and as soon as we got to the bottom, near the lake, as tiny motor boat came putting up to the dock. The driver of the boat waved us in and immediately began the short trip back to the other side. We found out later that this boat was a part of the mountain train system and carried passengers every day from the train to the little, charming mountain town.
After having dinner on a small porch that was on top of the water, (look in the picture for the pink hotel on the left–that is where we were.), we climbed into the puffy, squishy, eider-down (goose feather) comforters and fell fast asleep from the weariness of the week.
A couple of hours later, we were awakened with a big boom. Suddenly as we opened our eyes, we saw the lights out the window of the whole town go dark. As we sat up, we realized we were in the midst of a severe, pounding rain storm. We both crawled in the darkness to window and all we could see were dark silhouettes of the mountain with sheets of rain blowing sideways. As our eyes grew accustomed to the darkness, we looked down and saw that the porch where we had eaten was covered in the water of the lake with porch furniture floating all around.
Suddenly, a flash of lightening filled the black night sky, and we saw across the lake where we had dismounted. There, amidst the blowing torrents of rain and the waves of the sea splashing 10-20 feet high, we saw a small rock castle a still, dark shadow, standing fast against the storm. Immoveable, firm amidst all the rest that was blowing and moving.
The next morning, as I was reading my Bible, the verses, “He who builds on the rock will not be shaken.” And now I had a visual picture of the one who built his house on the rock.
Storms will come, and as a matter of fact, I feel like we are living in a very stormy time—immorality, wickedness, voices from every corner of the world tempting us to look to someone or something else for security, materialism, pornography, the break-down of marriage, relative values, humanism. The flashes of lightening and the thunder of the world seem to accost at every point.
Yet, there is a promise that if one builds his house on the rock, the simple, profound, instructive truth of Jesus’ words, he will be wise and will weather the storms.
I wish all of my children would get married, have lots of children and move in next door. They are my favorite people and best friends. How I would love for our lives to reflect the fairy tale of family I have always dreamed. (And, by the way, I am still praying for this.)
But the reality is, we are living in challenging times, and God has chosen this part of history in which we were to be alive, training our children for the world they will inherit.
So, the beginning point for our children is to build strong, firm, foundations–emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually–to build these soul foundations on the rock, so that they will be able to stand firm and strong.
However, since most women do not know the Bible well and aren’t sure what foundations to build on, and when often Christians are so divided on the subject of Biblical mothering, it can be confusing to know how to build. Even in our churches the messages of truth are confusing, and sometimes divisive. The lines are drawn in different places.
Yet, when I look back on my life as a mom, and embraced the stewardship of pouring into my children, I found Biblical principles that guided me. Scripture is very clear in most cases, but many people are just not ready to obey scripture and so compromise with permission from other Christians to live above Biblical wisdom.
Yet, Jesus was very clear and instruction We must obey His truths and teach them. His teachings aree simple and clear.
But herein lies the tension–there is a necessary sacrifice of the mom’s life to build these ideals. They do not just happen from a ten to fifteen minute devotional a day. The principles must be a part of the moms life, part of her instruction to her children and then the air of the truth must be breathed in and out, morning, noon and night , so that the child’s very soul will be shaped on the truths, the principles of wisdom, godly choices, and convictions, all which take years and years to build. Building a foundation takes time, hard work and energy and patience.
So, a foundation must be planned out and carefully built. The soundness of all great structures rest on the foundation. And so we must build the foundation of our children’s souls on solid, firm, immoveable rock, truths that are timeless. We must be students of the words and the truths, we must ingest them deep in our own souls, as a teacher cannot pass on that which is not first hers.
The storms of our lives and our children’s lives come mainly through the voices of the world, and cleverly deceptive and persuasive–the foolishness of the world and the destruction that the world brings but does not bely until it is too late.
So we begin with defining the foundations that must be built, the truths that must be understood. Foundations will be the first area to be laid in building strength so that our children will grow up to have a solid foundation that will support every storm and wind that comes their way, to cultivate them to be able to champion God’s causes in the midst of the storms their lives will bring.
Thank you so much for your inspirational words! I have always struggled with the worlds view (friends and family too) of how we should raise our family and I have been homeschooling for eight years! I feel like you are a kind friend who is telling me what I need to hear right when I need to hear/read it. I grow weary of the fight but your blog renews and strengthens me.
ps I have made your crustless quiche many times and my whole family LOVES it!
Thank you, thank you!! I just found your blog today and this post hit home for me. My husband and I are rediscovering God’s truths and His written intentions for marriage and raising children. We feel like we’re going against our families, who are wonderful Christian people, but for some reason struggle with the changes we’re making based on what the Bible says. Thank you so much for the encouragement!!
Your words encourage me, esp the part where you said, “Even in our churches the messages of truth are confusing, and sometimes divisive. The lines are drawn in different places.”. Earlier this year, after reading several of your books and some diff. homeschooling blogs, God strongly laid it on my heart to homeschool my children (ages 5, 3, and 1) and He gave me a new perspective on motherhood (the mission and ministry that comes with it). I wrote a blog about our decision and the reasons why we were choosing to homeschool and why we felt it was right for our family and in the process one friend got very offended and ended our friendship. Have you found that when you take a stand for what you believe to be biblical mothering and the call on your life that other christians find it offensive because to some degree you are saying that you don’t agree with them (although you are not coming right out and saying this). I guess since I am so new at this, I’m wondering how to have such strong beliefs, but not be offensive or judgemental (even in my thoughts) towards others who are choosing to do it a different way. Now that our family is homeschooling, I feel cut off from all my friends that chose to put their kids in kindergarten this year. It was like we were all going down similar paths and then God pulled me a different way. He gave me a different vision, deeper goals and commitments to my family and kids (and I’m so thankful for that!), but now I don’t feel that I can relate so much to my old friends. I am really questioning how I can have such a conviction about something being so completely right and lining up Biblically, but then other mothers pray and feel completely differently? Do you think homeschooling is a “calling” that only some certain mothers have or is it a biblical principle and a part of mothering and raising kids to know, love and serve God? I’m really wrestling with all of this and didn’t know if you have any wisdom or advice.
Jaime,
Your thoughts about home school (that you have such conviction about it and that it lines up Biblically) are similar to how some feel about adoption. In the Bible we are all called to care for orphans, but God does open doors for some to adopt them. Should all Christian families adopt or is this a calling for some? We are all called to care for orphans. We are all called to disciple our children but are we all to home school? Does discipleship look the same for everyone? As a woman who wants to obey my Lord in all things, these are questions I ponder.
Jamie,
I’m not perfect and these women know that. Are you involved with a homeschooling support group in your area? If not, I would highly encourage it! Those relationships are also so wonderful! Blessings to you!! Emily
I have been experiencing those same emotions this year as I too embark on my first year of homeschooling (I have two girls 5 and 3 and I’m pregnant with baby #3). This summer we decided to leave our church (one that my husband and I have attended since we were in middle school). The Lord led us to a church that is very much encouraging of homeschool and we’re very thankful for those new relationships with other “like minded” families. We continue to keep relationships with friends that have not chosen to homeschool. I have many moms friends from MOPS that all send their kids to public school. The awesome thing that I see God doing through those continued relationships is that those moms see what I’m doing and, at first, were very skeptical, but now we’re having conversations about homeschool. They are seeing my children and how they are thriving. We have honest conversations about how we can’t do it all (and keep our sanity) but we have to do what the Lord instructs. I try to constantly speak the truth in love, but also I wait for those opportunities. I ask God to guard my mouth and make me aware of when I can speak with someone about those Biblical truths because they’re ready to hear them because otherwise I know I’d just spit them all out and probably offend everyone!
Strong Foundations do take time….in a world where so many things are tugging at our time….This was a good message Sally! I will share it on facebook tonight—– Here’s to more patience and purposefulness in building foundations that will stand the storms.
I have so much to learn and so many areas to grow in..its hard to build a foundation in the lives of our children when at the same time God is forming new foundations in our hearts as mother. How awesome it is though to see God geowing and strengthening me in such a way that I am still able to disciple these children. So thankful for grace and Gods promise to strengthen those whose hearts are devoted to him.
I am both daunted by the task and inspired to action from your words. I think one of the things I love most is that while I am seeking to build those foundations in my boys, God is simultaneously strengthening me and girding up my own foundation. I am constantly learning so many spiritual truths from my children as we go through days together. How grateful I am for this calling and for your encouraging words, Sally.
I agree totally that we cannot give out what we don’t have, and I believe I have to stay close to God to be a godly mother. I know the best thing I can do for my family is walk with God. And I know that we are all looking for principles to live by. And I believe in the principles in the Bible. But, walking with our infinitely wise and untamed God means that sometimes we follow Him in paths that lead us a different way. I guess my question is: is home schooling a Biblical principal? It is easy to feel judged by those who home school, just as those who home school feel judged by those don’t. Can godly children be raised going to public school? My daughter attends a private Christian school. I guess I’d like to see principles and foundations fleshed out here a bit more. My prayer since before I had my daughter was that she would love God with all her heart, soul, mind and strength and love others. I have always liked what you said, Sally, about each family being a unique puzzle. So, given that uniqueness of each puzzle, what are the Biblical principles we are talking about that apply to all, and is home schooling a principle for all? I love and agree with this post, Sally. I’d just like to know what you think of as principles.
Thank you for this post. I feel like you were talking to me. I am working on my foundation and pray to be the example of a Christian woman that my girls need.
Sally, I LOVE this story about the thunderstorm. I first read it in one of your books or was it a
conference? Anyway, I have never forgotten it and I have this picture in my mind to go with it. Now,
I have the real picture since you posted the little village where your story actually took place. You are so
right about the foundation being the most important thing. By the way, I would love to be your
neighbor for a season : )