For the last five weeks, my sister and her husband and three children have been living with us, and WOW has it been so much fun. It of course has been so tiring as well, but mostly it felt like, WHY IN THE WORLD DO WE NOT LIVE IN COMMUNITY like this all the time. They are moving two miles away from us and couldn't get into their house until September. I cherished the time we got to cook, clean, do laundry, and parent each other's children. When one of us was tired, the other could jump in. You learn so many life lessons when you live with people. As my sister mentioned numerous times, it is like pulling down your underwear in front of people where all laundry is aired. You see all the strengths and weaknesses of each member of the family. It at times makes you want to hide, to run, to scream, or to cry, but in the end, you develop such a deep love for one another that it covers all the messiness of each of us. I am so thankful for this experience, and at the same time so deeply fatigued in such a good way.
This week without them, it has been so quiet. I have found myself not in a hurry all the time now that I have three in school. I feel my brain beginning to thaw out and my breaths getting deeper. The crisp fall air is cleansing to a new year. I have prayed that I would be more of a servant like Jesus was and through serving my sister's family I am so convicted of what a bad servant I am. I have seen God mold me in the last few weeks, giving more glimpses of being like Christ, but only tiny ones so that I don't get prideful because that is of course what we all want to do. We want someone to notice or get credit at times... I found myself just asking myself, would if I could serve without anyone EVER knowing what I did. The reward in heaven would be glorious I am sure of it! That will be my new prayer... serving and thanking God that I can serve.
