I’ve sat with the same passage of scripture in front of me for over three months, chewing on it and chewing some more. Several times I tried to find a take-away and move on, but each time it was over-generalized, and my heart was not satisfied. Then, at just the right time, the purpose that God had for me in this story became clear and it spoke wisdom into a trial that my husband and I were facing.

To my sweet little ones,

As I rock you and watch your eyes draw heavier with each blink, I softly hum the tune of ‘this little light’ and imagine the world that you will face as you grow. The pervading distortion of truth and evil can be paralyzing, but I see you being a change-maker. A defender of truth. And a spreader of hope.

Have you noticed how people change their temperament as Thanksgiving Day draws near? Even though the lines get longer at the store, to-do lists grow a mile long and schedules seem busier than ever, people seem more patient with one another, more thoughtful and more openly thankful. The spirit that culminates in this single day of year seeps into our souls as the first scent of pumpkin spice is released.

Since my husband and I first heard the names Aquila and Priscilla, we were captivated. Always mentioned together, and with repeated gratitude from Paul for their impact on the church, this couple became a source of inspiration for our own marriage. Although their names appear only 6 times, their impact has reached much further than the handfuls of words that comprise their written story.

People are messy. I’m not talking peanut butter in the hair kind of messy, although sometimes that happens. I’m talking about pouring out your heart and letting friends into your personal world kind of messy. I was chatting with a friend one day and we exchanged prayer requests. A few hours later I looked at her and said, “okay, now what’s your REAL prayer request?” Then the true conversation began and I got a glimpse into her heart.

After just a few years in our home, I have watched a story take place in our garden that can be reflective of our lives in so many ways. Within a year of being in our home, my eagerness to garden was replaced with the sleepless nights that arrive with a new baby. It was no longer my priority. The plants became an afterthought and weeds began to set in. ‘At least they are green’ I would tell myself as I walked past the window.

There is a full spectrum of experiences that shape motherhood. There’s waiting and rejoicing. Waiting and grieving. Trying and hoping. Missing and remembering. But through it all, we are each being molded – one hand graciously pressing on our hearts, the other pressing and guiding us through this broken world.

As a new mom I found a closeness with God during those wee hours of the morning when I was nursing and rocking my son back to sleep. In the quietness of the house, God’s voice seemed ever-present and comforted me through the [still ongoing] emotional journey into this new foreign role called ‘motherhood’.

When you look up the name Joshua in the Bible, you find words like conqueror, leader, and warrior - all inspiring titles. But from where I sit, my days look anything but heroic.

Even though I know there are many lessons to be learned from Joshua’s courage and obedience during his conquests towards the promised land—in this season of motherhood where I find myself battling the world’s pressure for an explanation of my life’s purpose, I crave a way to connect more deeply with Joshua’s story.