Friday Ramblings

I woke up this morning with this poem going around in my head.
When I was a new Mom, new wife, new everything.
I would never know where to begin with the day.
There would be days when I never got dressed because
every time I put the baby down she cried.
I got better as time went on but still I would be at my wits end
with all of this mothering business.
I desperately needed a older woman in my life. Then a lady told
about this 15 minute radio program by a lady named Elisabeth
Elliot.

So every morning for 15 minutes a day she taught me. I listened.
I bought her tapes and to tell you the truth. I would listen over and
over and most of the time I didn't have a clue what she was
talking about. Servant hood, discipleship, submission, biblical
authority. I would listen and then I started trying what I learned.
I still had the hardest problem on getting dressed in the morning.
One morning she quoted this poem. So many mornings,
I would sit, and try and figure out what was the next thing.
I learned to jump in the shower before my husband left for work.
I learned to clean the house up before I went to bed. I also
learned to have my quiet time before the kids got up.
But I think everything changed when I was able to quote this poem
to myself when life got crazy. I thought I would share it with you
on the Friday.



Do The Next Thing

From an old English parsonage,
Down by the sea,
There came in the twilight,
A message to me;
Its quaint Saxon legend,
Deeply engraven,
Hath, as it seems to me,
Teaching from Heaven.
And on through the hours
The quiet words ring
Like a low inspiration-
DO THE NEXT THING

Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment,
Let down from Heaven,
Time, opportunity,
Guidance, are given.
Fear not tomorrows,
Child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus,
DO THE NEXT THING

Do it immediately;
Do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care;
Do it with reverence,
Tracing His Hand,
Who placed it before thee with
Earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence,
Safe 'neath His wing,
Leave all resultings,
DO THE NEXT THING

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
(Working or suffering)
Be thy demeanor,
In His dear presence,
The rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance
Be thy psalm,
Strong in His faithfulness,
Praise and sing,
Then, as He beckons thee,
DO THE NEXT THING

-Author unknown
Elisabeth Elliot taught me so much, my spirit drank in her words and I went
from this young woman who had wholeheartedly embraced the Woman
Lib Movement to a woman who wanted to be the kind of woman that
Proverbs 31 spoke about. I want to get to the end of my life and have my
children rise up and called me blessed and I wanted my husband to speak
within the gates. I wanted him to be able to safely trust in me.
I wanted to be as the wise woman was in Proverbs 14 considered wise and
not a foolish one who tore down her house with her hands.

I really shudder to think what I might have become if not for the
teaching of Elisabeth Elliot and her older woman influence in my life.
As she said once, " all of us can be a older woman to someone."
I think it is so true,
So just a bit on what I was thinking about on this lovely Friday.
Have a lovely day

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, for His wonderful works to the children of men!

(Psalm. 107:6)