I knew Spring had arrived when some BIG black ants greeted me as they frantically scurried around for any remaining remnant of crumbs or sugar from the night before. I swatted one, then another, as more and more appeared from between the wall until I gave up, leaving the carcasses of dozens of ants scattered like a battleground on the kitchen counter!!
Did you know that an ant can lift up to 20 times its weight?? If a second grader was to lift something that heavy, they would be able to lift a car!! They are known for their diligence and work ethics (the ants, not the second grader). We can learn so much by watching ants...I just don't care to watch them going after sugar in my kitchen!!
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." ~Proverbs 30:25~
"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways and be wise." ~Proverbs 6:6~
Ants remind me of sin!! Recently, I cleaned the kitchen a little more than the usual quick clean-up. BUT...I had neglected to clean inside the cupboards or the dirt under the stove!! Who usually does THAT?! Well, THAT was JUST what those ants were after!! Have you ever cleaned up areas of your life, repenting of sin, but neglected to root out all of the sin?? That is what these little ants reminded me of. Sin that I had not entirely rooted out. Like crumbs!!
I can be sluggish in my venture as mother and wife. I remember when I started homeschooling that I was sluggish in 'getting around' to teaching my son. I would procrastinate by chatting on the phone with a friend or getting side-tracked with something supposedly 'needing' to get done. I am sure that many young homeschooling moms can do the same thing although maybe today you might get hung up with an email, Facebook, or chatting online while checking out a blog. There is nothing new under the sun...so although in those early years of homeschooling, I didn't have internet to distract me...there were still other things.
I remember reading a book about organizing teaching supplies as I started to homeschool that spoke about finding places to put pencils and such. This book explained how I could waste time, lots of time, just looking for something as simple as a pencil. Believe me when I say that even though I tried to do this, there was always some mysterious item that could NOT be found even though things appeared to be where they belonged. I am sure children also have a way of keeping things UNorganized. Children blaze trails, leaving 'stuff' in their wake!! Then, the protractor is no where to be found!!
So, as I watched these pesky little ants scurry around (you know they zig-zag because they are following an odorous trail another ant left to tell where to find my sugar) I thought about how diligent they are. Am I this diligent?? Do I procrastinate forever with tasks that should be done?? Do you?? I do!!
I must be diligent in all that I endeavor to do and get it done. It could be laundry, planning what's for supper, or spending time with your little ones that is being pushed on the back-burner.
I remember days upon days that seemed never-ending. Diapers, schoolwork to correct and re-correct, stories to read (I read aloud to my children every afternoon), and somehow supper needed to be on the table before my family starved!! You might be 'in' these years; and while you are happily doing what God has called you to do, you still get exhausted and can't see the end of the days or diapers.
Sadly enough, they all stop wearing diapers and start wiping their own faces. Days add upon days until they are all grown and the house gets quieter and quieter. Try to think of the future...have a vision for your child and the godly heritage you desire to give them. They will ultimately have to make a choice as to who to serve (God or satan) and you want to look back over these years with as little regret as possible. You want to get rid of the 'ants' in your life and be washed in the blood of Jesus. You want your children to see Jesus in you.
For the fun of it, here is a link to a book about ants that we read and read in our home:
"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways and be wise." ~Proverbs 6:6~
Ants remind me of sin!! Recently, I cleaned the kitchen a little more than the usual quick clean-up. BUT...I had neglected to clean inside the cupboards or the dirt under the stove!! Who usually does THAT?! Well, THAT was JUST what those ants were after!! Have you ever cleaned up areas of your life, repenting of sin, but neglected to root out all of the sin?? That is what these little ants reminded me of. Sin that I had not entirely rooted out. Like crumbs!!
I can be sluggish in my venture as mother and wife. I remember when I started homeschooling that I was sluggish in 'getting around' to teaching my son. I would procrastinate by chatting on the phone with a friend or getting side-tracked with something supposedly 'needing' to get done. I am sure that many young homeschooling moms can do the same thing although maybe today you might get hung up with an email, Facebook, or chatting online while checking out a blog. There is nothing new under the sun...so although in those early years of homeschooling, I didn't have internet to distract me...there were still other things.
I remember reading a book about organizing teaching supplies as I started to homeschool that spoke about finding places to put pencils and such. This book explained how I could waste time, lots of time, just looking for something as simple as a pencil. Believe me when I say that even though I tried to do this, there was always some mysterious item that could NOT be found even though things appeared to be where they belonged. I am sure children also have a way of keeping things UNorganized. Children blaze trails, leaving 'stuff' in their wake!! Then, the protractor is no where to be found!!
So, as I watched these pesky little ants scurry around (you know they zig-zag because they are following an odorous trail another ant left to tell where to find my sugar) I thought about how diligent they are. Am I this diligent?? Do I procrastinate forever with tasks that should be done?? Do you?? I do!!
I must be diligent in all that I endeavor to do and get it done. It could be laundry, planning what's for supper, or spending time with your little ones that is being pushed on the back-burner.
I remember days upon days that seemed never-ending. Diapers, schoolwork to correct and re-correct, stories to read (I read aloud to my children every afternoon), and somehow supper needed to be on the table before my family starved!! You might be 'in' these years; and while you are happily doing what God has called you to do, you still get exhausted and can't see the end of the days or diapers.
Sadly enough, they all stop wearing diapers and start wiping their own faces. Days add upon days until they are all grown and the house gets quieter and quieter. Try to think of the future...have a vision for your child and the godly heritage you desire to give them. They will ultimately have to make a choice as to who to serve (God or satan) and you want to look back over these years with as little regret as possible. You want to get rid of the 'ants' in your life and be washed in the blood of Jesus. You want your children to see Jesus in you.
"She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised."
~Proverbs 31:27-30~
For the fun of it, here is a link to a book about ants that we read and read in our home:
~Judith~
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I dread the days of when my grows quiet, Judith Anne. We have 2 children that have already left the nest, and it's never easy saying "Good-bye" to our heritages.
ReplyDeleteMany blessings!