Christmas is not a happy sappy experience for everyone. When I was a kid all I knew was food, toys, fun, family gatherings and candle-lit services. I loved Christmas time so much that I persuaded Obadiah to add our wedding to the holiday season. I am grateful to my parents, Obadiah and the rest of my family for keeping the magic real for me. I was so naïve and I miss being that way.
I really want my kids to grow up in a church where they feel loved and accepted. It seems like this ought to be simple, but it absolutely is not.
If only I could home-school my children, I thought. If only I didn’t have to work. I have wondered if it is a sin for me to work for money to keep this beautiful house and maintain a certain standard of living.
I wondered, Shouldn’t we let go of our material possessions to put Christ first in our lives? My husband, Obadiah, challenged my musings. “Are you saying it is a sin for mothers to work? Do all women have to stay home with their children? Is home-schooling the only acceptable way to educate a child?” We questioned the decisions we had made about our budget, home and lifestyle. We analyzed everything! I tried to imagine for us a radically different life. I prayed to God repeatedly asking Should we sell our home? Should I home-school? Should I be a stay-at-home-mom? I felt an answer in my soul.