This guest post is from Connie, wife for 26 years, mother of 8 rowdy children. She writes daily at Smockity Frocks about household management, homeschooling, crafts, recipes, large family living, and MORE.

Chapter 7: Inspiring a Sense of God’s Powerful Presence

Since our family is in week eight of surviving my husband’s sudden layoff, this chapter really struck a chord with me.

Sally writes in this chapter about pointing out to our children the wonderful ways in which the Lord works and not allowing everyday stresses to make us overlook his powerful presence.

This happened for us this very week when we received an anonymous envelope in the mail. Inside the envelope were 30 passes to the city pool. The temperatures in north central Texas have already reached triple digits, and since we are trying to cut back on expenses by not using our air conditioner, those pool passes caused a LOT of excitement for our family!

When we pulled up to the pool and everyone saw the three-story twisty water slide, my 5 year old exclaimed, “Oh, Mama! I have always wanted to come to this pool!” I told her that God knew her heart’s desire and provided those pool passes for us through the kindness of an anonymous friend. I reminded everyone that we must thank God for blessing us with friends and for providing a fun, cool treat for us.

It’s so easy to focus on the stressful events in our lives, particularly when that stress includes the loss of our income. If we look around though, we are sure to find many ways that the Lord blesses us, even in the midst of trials.

Chapter 8: Inspiring a New Kind of Love

“When we follow in the footsteps of Jesus to reach out in love to those in need, we will ignite in our children the sense that they are worthy to consider themselves part of the solution in meeting people’s needs.”

I love the way Sally reminds us that we can model Jesus’ love by serving others, particularly those who may not look like we do.

My own 16 year old daughter is such a wonderful example of doing this! Boy, did she teach this old mother what it means to love like Jesus did when she gave a well to a community in Africa for her 16th birthday!

I hope I can inspire others to model this kind of love they way she has done.

~Connie, Smockity Frocks

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Thank you Connie for sharing with us!!

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Walk with the King!
Courtney, WomenLivingWell