A {tiny} Mission Field

 

 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me,
it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck,
and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

Matthew 18:6

 

“Mommy, when I grow up, I want to be a missionary,” my 11 year old daughter firmly stated, as she thumbed through a beautiful book from her Aunty Kate. The book showed how children lived throughout the world, in various countries with different ethnic backgrounds and a wide array of life differences. The pages popped with beautiful colours and attractive scenes, along with wonderful testimonies of how children around the world have been changed and helped through the aid of others. Indeed, it pulled on the heartstrings of our hearts as we read it.

I smiled and said, “That would be wonderful, Lyla. Please, take me with you!”

I remember very distinctly feeling the same way as a child – my heart yearned to be a missionary overseas! I wanted to be work in an orphanage so badly … to travel to Africa … to sail the seas (or rather, fly over the seas) and visit foreign lands, hold little sweet children on my lap and tell them about Jesus. In grade 3, I began telling everyone that did not know about Jesus that He had come to save them from their sins. I remember taking a little Bible to school and “witnessing” and coming home and telling my mother about it in our small bungalow kitchen with the yellow flower wallpaper.

Now, years later, I read missionary biographies to my eight children and make meals upon meals upon meals day in and day out. My mission is different, but I do not begrudge these tasks. They are my mission in life right now and I am so thankful for this “job”.

Later that afternoon, after I finished preparing the night’s dinner meal, I sat down for a cup of tea and allowed my mind to wander to distant memories … when my husband and I were first married, the Lord opened doors and allowed us to go on a few mission trips -which were indeed life changing! We were blessed to travel to Africa and spend almost a month of our newly wed life helping a Salvation Army hospital. It was WONDERFUL. Absolutely wonderful. I loved, treasured and enjoyed every single minute of the trip. Later, I was able to travel to help at a women’s centre on the border of Haiti and the Dominican. It, too, was life changing.

Suddenly, the back door slammed.
I heard a little one call for me to come undo their skates – for the fourth time that afternoon. I entered the backroom and felt a brush of fresh air sweep across my face as the back door remained ajar. My short-dark haired daughter tromped across the mud room floor, leaving piles of snow tracks in her wake. Her cheeks were flushed bright pink and her eyes were sparkling.

“Did you see my skate’, mommy? I can go so fast!” she exclaimed with delight.

I bent down and asked God to give me eyes for the mission field right in front of me. Eight growing children and an energetic-changing home to run.
My mission field is my family now and I am aware, constantly, of this fact. If I have a heart for orphans and the children around the world, should I not be loving and sharing of my time with the little and big ones that God has placed right here in my heart and arms? Indeed.

Sometimes, we are unable to travel or visit foreign countries, but that should not stop us from being missionaries in our own small homes … in our own families …. to our own husbands and, yes, unto our little children.

While I may no longer be afforded the time or finances to travel overseas of visit faraway places, my heart knows that this mission, this little home, this family of mine, is just as precious. And as I mop up puddles of melted snow on the floor and prepare yet another meal to fill hungry bellies, my prayer will be to serve willingly and not begrudge all the little tasks that are before me – Lord, let me be a missionary in my own home – serving with humility and love.

 

 

February 26, 2018 - 7:01 pm

Gigi Thank you, mom! xo

February 17, 2018 - 1:20 pm

Brenda (Gigi’s Mom) Gillian, this blesses my heart! You ARE a missionary!! To your family, friends and neighbours … and I believe that we need to first be missionaries to these and then God will open doors for us to be missionaries to the world. I personally know of Missionaries who did not go out to the world until their children were “grown”. Some starting at 55 years old and some even older! God can still use you and Abby, as overseas missionaries when your children leave home. In His time! xoxo

February 12, 2018 - 4:42 pm

Gigi Misty, I’m so glad to hear from you. Just yesterday, a sweet 80 year old lady at church told me how much she regretted not staying home with her children during their childhood years. It is, sadly, something that is and was not just common in our day. It is a humbling job to be a stay at home mother, for sure, but definitely a blessed calling.

February 12, 2018 - 3:39 pm

Misty Whitehead Thank you for this. I too love being a missionary at home to my husband and kids. I use to dream of rocking babies in an orphanage when I was a girl also. Several mission trips to Central America before having my children gave me a hunger for missions. Sometimes it is discouraging to look around and see so very few people staying home with their babies and guiding them daily. I’ve been told many times- “I do not have the patience to be with my kids all day.” They do not know what they are missing! I am so blessed and thankful that I have been given this opportunity and pray that others around me will return home to reap the blessings!

February 12, 2018 - 6:38 am

Gigi Renee, my dear friend, so great to hear from you. Bless little Jeremy’s heart! We think of you daily xo

February 11, 2018 - 5:40 pm

Renee I love this post Gillian!!!!!! Today as we were leaving our little church I saw Jeremy swinging a loaf of bread. I wondered what he was up to…until I saw him duck behind the church to a little alcove in the alley where a homeless man lay. My son was bringing him breakfast…my heart wept with joy. Our mission field is our families…and helping to teach them to minister to each other, the neighbours and to the dear man asleep behind the church. Love to u and ur family my friend xo

February 11, 2018 - 6:16 am

Gigi Thank you, Sue. These past few weeks have not been busy but they have been full with meeting the needs of the family. 🙂
But yes, I am so glad to hear of some affirmation … being at home with children is indeed a role many overlook, sadly. I am grateful for this opportunity!

February 11, 2018 - 12:38 am

Sue Its so nice to see your new post! I couldn’t agree with you more about your family being your primary mission in your life now. As i look back on the decision i made to stay home to raise our children and invest my life into my little “mission field”, there are some things i would do differently and i do have some regrets… but that decision is never one of them!