But some days I'm still shocked by the words that come out of my mouth. And I know. "...the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." I can't really remember a time when I haven't been pleading with God to help me with this. (One time I dreamed my head was flip-top-like. I watched it flip open and a bunch of snakes slithered out. Yeah.)
And when I read Amy Carmichael's words, I know... "A cup brimful of sweet water cannot spill even one drop of bitter water, however suddenly jolted."
And since joltings are a pretty common occurrence throughout my day, I must find a way to drink the "sweet water."
But how did I get here? What if I'd been taught as a child to "think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise"??? What if I'd "hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You"??? How many hearts would have been spared wounding? How many friendships would have lasted?
"Motherhood is a hallowed place because children aren't commonplace. Co-laboring over the sculpting of souls is a sacred vocation, a humbling privilege." {Ann Voskamp}
I don't have to pass down this trait. I can arm them with good words. Strong words. Life-giving words. The Word. I realized this when I first heard about The Box. I cannot possibly do everything I want to do with them. But I can do this. And what if it really is all that matters, in the end?
So yesterday I heard this song for the first time. And as the tears flowed, I thought of The Box. Full of Words. Some of my very favorites are tucked away behind Day 26..."In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God. And the Word was God." {John 1:1} And then this:
"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us." {John 1:14}
And when I hide His Word in my heart, I am hiding Him in my heart. And then, I am closer. To Him. The Living Word. I remember Emile Cailliet and these words too.
Who really knows the full weight of this habit? It's been four years. Over one hundred verses. Living Words. Flowing through us and in us and all around us. It's probably the reason people tell me they feel something when they come into our home.
“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it." Isaiah 55:10-11
*The website doesn't say to do this, but I laminated my cards (so they would last longer, and because we kept getting breakfast on them) and then put magnetic tape on the back so we could put the one we're learning on the fridge.
*Check out this Verse Card Maker site! (Found this link on Ann Voskamp's blog: A Holy Experience.)
*I use BibleGateway to search for verses in the version I want.
*Just click here to get started making your box!
And because it's been four years, I know what it's done for my heart...so this will be my goal for the new school year. Because we're never too old to stop learning. And without this our hearts fall asleep...
"There is no one who calls on Your name,
Who stirs himself up to take hold of You..."
~Isaiah 64:7
