Thursday, March 07, 2013

Redemption comes in strange places.


I had nothing to say.
Then I looked in the comments and read this.


I love you guys.




I'm a stay at home mom, I guess, by the standard description - who is SO BLESSED to be able to do these gigs that support our family, without having to do a 9-5 or 7-7. I work lots of nights at the supper club, but the kids are at dinner and bedtime by that point. When we adopted our first two boys, I was working full time in a consuming job at a growing church, and my husband went to part time on Intervarsity staff so that the kids were home with a parent every day... So I guess I've been on both 'sides' of the conversation.

I am with the rest of you, though. We have to stop picking on each other and choosing sides. I think this really does fall into the category of adding to the beauty - of singing with grace the song that The Lord calls us to sing season by season. I remind myself regularly that It's all worship. It's all sacred, no matter how you slice it - when done with the desire to honor The Lord and create a loving and safe environment for your family, no matter the season. So you,Donna, are going to be the best darned school commuter there could possibly be. And you, dear MS, while you're hatching a new one, are going to, fully redeemed and with grace on your lips, work that night desk with all the glory you can muster, making it a sacred and holy place. And I am going to fold that mountain of laundry in Jesus' name. 
It sounds a little corny, I think. But then again, redemption comes in strange places. ;)
Love you QLCS,Stephie


Thank you Stephie.

Your words and thoughts bless me.

Thank you God for leading Steph to this blog.


The perfect song.





It comes in helping a soul find it's worth.

Add to the beauty,
tell a better story,
shine with a light that's burning up inside.



with love
Donna




Home today. #onedayhh



35 comments:

  1. Oh, I have just a nano second. I'm leaving to watch my grandsons while their mom works.

    But Steph's words are a lovely recap of yesterdays comments.

    And this, this video is worth the 2 minutes.

    http://youtu.be/YNq_v6J4IJk

    Love to the QLCS crew.

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    1. Just peeked in, on my way out to walk the dog. Great video, Carol :-) The toughest job you'll ever love: being Mom. (or is that the Marines?)

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    2. Yup! The Marines. My son is a Marine!

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  2. I took a last look at yesterday's comments a bit ago, this afternoon and saw Stephie's wonderful words. Thanks for posting them today Donna. These are words of life.

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  3. Beautiful! Thank you for reposting her comment, Donna, for all of us to read. This place, this blog, what a wonderful bunch of ladies you all are! So caring and warm and blessed and encouraging. Her comment brought the tears flowing. Really beautiful. Thanking the Lord today for the way he works in peoples' lives and praying for all the QL readers, for God's will to be done in your lives, for HIS honor and HIS glory.

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  4. it truly is all about Him.

    we need to remember that.

    thanks for the reminder.
    hugs.

    nicole

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  5. Anonymous10:27 AM

    I was crying until I read "And I am going to fold that mountain of laundry in Jesus' name." and the tears turned to laughter. Thanks for these wise words, Steph...and thanks to Donna for sharing this gem. You both done good. :)

    Mary Z

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  6. I just had to listen one more time to the awesome Sara Groves. These lyrics are perfect for the message of today's post -- and for the theme that is interwoven in your blog, Donna ... "Calling out the best of who we are". Thanks.

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  7. Great video from Sara Groves and true words from Steph. Wonderful to hear, even for those of us who aren't lucky enough to be mothers.

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    1. Absolutely, Julie. Seasons, stations - who knows. Grace, grace, grace! An invitation to be beautiful, no matter what.

      (I love the part about 'it comes in loving community' too - that's us. :))

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    2. Yes, Steph, community is wonderful! :)

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  8. Forgot to say how much I like the picture of Katie...

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  9. We do what we need to do for our families, and for ourselves. There are no bad choices, ever. Only different choices. And all should be respected, and given grace.

    How beautiful you have made this forum. Full of beauty and love and support...

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  10. I am sobbing in the mountains.

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    1. YOU are a blessing. a vessel. You open yourself to be used by Him, and even in blog comments, He uses you... in beautiful and wonderful ways. love.

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  11. What a lovely song, I had to look up the lyrics. Thank you for sharing, it was just what I needed today.

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  12. Donna, I just love your blog, and your readers, and you. :) You bring light to the world. Thank you!

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  13. Oh...how I hate to read your posts and comments late...I miss out on all the fun!!


    But, eventually, I get here.
    Lovely words, lovely song. Just lovely.
    E.

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  14. "singing with grace the song that The Lord calls us to sing season by season"

    What beautiful words, Steph.

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  15. Anonymous4:19 PM

    I always appreciate the comments here, but yesterday was extra special. We speak out sometimes in pain and someone (Stephanie) turns our thinking around to the one who takes on our pain no matter what it is. And, how we live our lives to his glory can elevate the mundane to sacred. I knew a church lady once who absolutely hated to find her son's and husband's socks all turned inside out in the dirty clothes, but she was led to celebrate them and decided to pray for them as she turned the socks right side out. Her soul was blessed. We get to choose. I only wish I could make the right choices more often.
    love and prayers, jep

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  16. My two favorite lyrics from Add to the Beauty:

    "It comes in loving community
    It comes in helping a soul find it's worth"

    "This is grace, an invitation to be beautiful
    This is grace, an invitation"

    I love Sara Groves...not only is she real and profound, she is hilariously funny! I highly recommend seeing her in concert. It's good stuff.

    And I give you a big AMEN to your prayer of gratitude that Steph found this blog. What a gift she is to me.

    Quiet Life just keeps getting better and better, Donna. Real people, strong opinions, kind hearts, wise souls, all being encouraged by you, the true and genuine voice of QL. So glad to be here.

    Mucho love,
    Di



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    1. p.s. picture of Katie? Gasp! So hauntingly beautiful.

      Di

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    2. Anonymous4:42 PM

      Thanks Di, you are so right about Donna being the true and genuine voice of QL and I forgot to say how lovely that picture of Katie is...so lovely. jep

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    3. I love you, dear Diane Hamilton Gault Wheeler. Forevs.

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    4. Anonymous10:04 PM

      {{LIKE}} button!!

      Mary Z

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    5. Ditto! Reading with my first cup of coffee on Friday morning, smiling, nodding. :-)

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    6. Just wait until we finally meet, Miz stephseef, Steph, Stephie, famous singer woman. It will be LEGEN......DARY!

      Di

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    7. And so it was!!!!!!!!!! :)

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  17. Thanks for sharing her beautiful comments! I HATE being asked what I do for a living. I am a stay-at-home mom too, but I also do a lot of other things, help plan vacation Bible school, help lead a Bible study, babysit for my friends when needed, play flute in a concert band and for worship at church. At this season of my life, both of my children are in school and I thought I would go back to work outside of the home, but my husband felt so strongly that my job was important and he encouraged me to stay home as long as I want to do that. I am so busy that I can't imagine holding down a 9-5 right now. BUT I also support my friends who do work full-time and mother full-time. I agree that doing it in Jesus' name is the only way to do it!

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  18. Anonymous8:30 AM

    As a lurker, I had to comment - love your words Stephie :) Fold this mountain of laundry in Jesus' name - HA!! Love love love. - LoriK

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