Something Has Been Lost

Something has been lost. And it is such a shame. The community of God’s people suffers for it. My husband is an engineer, and as such, has regular contractor clients he engineers for, as well as drafters to whom he subcontracts work. It is a nice business relationship, and he, being the “people-person” he is, asked if I would plan and hostess a “Christmas BBQ” for these folks. Well, I love to hostess, but mostly for our large family and homeschooling friends. But I am his beloved helpmeet, so of course, let the party proceed!

Today, the 5 older granddaughters (ages 13 to 17) and several of their homeschooling friends came over to Grandmama’s for a work day before the BBQ. They are superwomen! The granddaughters clean for me regularly, so they probably know more about my home than I do. They love to dig in and clean and arrange and decorate for me. Their friends are just as diligent and creative, so we had such a good time. Oh, the dusting of fan blades! The moving of sunroom plants! The re-organizing of the craft room! The place fairly shines!

And the fellowship – there is nothing like watching and hearing young virtuous maidens buzzing about in teams, talking and laughing and singing while the work. What a blessing! The preciousness of their presence was as much a blessing as the cleaning itself. This is missing in so many homes and friend-groups today, even in the church. The rare sweetness of their attitudes, the graciousness of their speech, the wholesomeness of their subject matter – all combined to make my heart fill with thanksgiving for this old path our family and friends are following.

It also gave me a tinge of sadness for other friends, Christian friends, who do not know this joy. The struggle they have with their young girls is the same as the world’s families. They don’t know what has gone wrong, and ask in frustration what in the world can they do? It is so sad that they really do not seem to want answers, because the answer requires dying to self themselves, and life today is about comfort, feel-good religious experiences, and quick, sit-com-length solutions. Step by step, the whole long way down this old path is just too restricting. By the time their daughters are in their teens, the twig has been bent, and only a miracle of grace will un-bend it.

So the sense of Christian community working and fellowshipping, young ladies loving to help others because their mothers have set the example, is rare. I can never thank the Lord enough for His mercy in sovereignly placing me where I am today. Thank you, Lord.