Homestead Longings

Salty Duties

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?"   (Matthew 5:13)

When she said it, I laughed. My brain almost instantly filed the comment away as one of the more ridiculous things I had ever heard. Why on earth would anyone want to sit with me (that sit at your feet thing) and pick MY brain? Especially a pastor's wife. Then I realized that she was serious! Then of course, being slightly startled, I blurted out "WHY?"

I don't tend to think of myself as having any trait or doing any activity that could be considered miraculous or extraordinary in any way. I am just me. A relatively new christian, a wife and mother, and a constantly struggling sinner with the randomly occuring immaturity issues. I guess there are a few things that I do now that put me outside the realm of mainstream society, but I didn't think I had moved that far away from the flow. I love God and am eager to learn more about him, and his will for my life. I am happy to be a keeper at home and a homeschooling mom. I never really thought that this was a big deal before, but I make a point to be in submission to my husband and always try to be a blessing to him. Guess that isn't so normal anymore though. I enjoy growing some of our own produce in the garden. I buy our beef in bulk straight from a friend who raises them. (which saves us a lot of money!) I try to be frugal with what we have. Sometimes I even hang laundry out on a line. =)

These are such normal things to me, so when this lovely lady mentioned some of them as the reason for her comment, I still didn't entirely understand. I have thought a bit more about this, and I came to realize something. It isn't so much about ME. I wonder if it is even about those things, or if it is more about what our culture has become. Who grows their own food? Who sews their own clothes or even can repair them? In comparison, how many really take on the responsibility to educate and raise their own children at home? How many really say, I will have as many children as God blesses me with? How many really realize that a dryer and tv are not necessities but luxuries?

I guess I have changed a lot in the past few years. I ran into a girl a few weeks ago that I went to high school with. Several times I have come across "old friends" or an acquaintance. We catch up briefly and 9 times out of 10 I find out that life is not good for them. They are barely making it and their lives still pretty much revolve around the same old theme. "Having a good time!" I wonder to myself: How did we get here? We came from the same place, we grew up together, and we ended up so drastically different. I can see the moral decay. Some just kept partying their lives away. Yet, I wasn't so different then, but I sure am now. In fact, the girl I recently ran into was visibly uncomfortable talking to me after short bit. I know why I am where I am. The sheer grace of God!

Yes, I have changed completely. But I keep asking myself, Is it enough?

It made me think of Matt. 5:13. I have actually heard people speaking about this verse several times in the past few months. Salt is a preservative, not just a spice. So, we are the preservative of our world and culture. Am I doing that?

I copied this verse out of my bible just this morning, as I do with those verses that really catch my attention for one reason or another. "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do." Luke 17:10 (KJV). Individual responsibility has been a big topic in my house for a while now. When I read this verse, 2 questions come to my mind. Have I done what I have been commanded? I know my duties as a mother and teacher, and even as a wife, but Exactly WHAT are my duties as a christian?

This is another verse I copied out today. "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up" Ephesians 4:11-12 What are my duties? Works of service for one thing.

I have definitely had some wonderful teachers, mentors, pastors, etc impact my life to the glory of God. I am where I have gotten to day in most part because of them. But, I see that it is not their job to sustain me indefinitely. Their job was to prepare me. To prepare me to go do my duties, which include works of service and being the salt of the earth. Have I done anything to make a difference on this culture? What am I doing to preserve God's standards? I don't know. I am really going to have to sit on this one for a while.