photo compliments of Lindsey Nobles
Yesterday my husband, Jeremy, landed in Guatemala City with the FH Bloggers for a week long visit. Late, late, late last night we were able to Skype with each other!
All my little kidlets were asleep and there I was sitting on the bathtub beyond giddy that I was finally able to speak with my hubby! Like any good spouse I was so relieved to hear how good the trip was going so far. The sights he’s seen. The people he’s met. The adventures they are about to go on.
And then I became a jealous spouse.
The enemy whispered in my ear, “and here you stay at home just a mom.”
I have never considered myself “just a mom” because I know how important our roles are. But wow, I flashed back to 1999 when my husband {then my boyfriend} had gone to Haiti. I had wanted to go so bad but didn’t have the money. I remember being ridiculously jealous back then. I guess not much changes in fourteen years, huh?
It’s tough being in the background. I know other women whose husbands leave for missions trips and it’s a heavy load that we carry while they are away. Not only do we have to take care of our normal daily responsibilities but we also have to take on our husbands usual duties. And try and keep our exhaustion from peeking it’s ugly head {yeah, that one I haven’t mastered, yet}. It takes moment by moment prayer. Knowing that he is following God’s call on his life. Knowing that my calling is to be here raising up this new generation of followers.
I truly am happy and excited for him. What an amazing opportunity! To go to a new country. A land that our Creator hand designed. Beauty that Jeremy’s eyes are taking in for the first time ever.
Someday, if the Lord is willing, I’ll join my husband in the mission field. But for now I’m here. And I don’t know what it’s like for him to leave his family for a week and not be able to communicate with us. I imagine, or hope, that he is yearning to be with us. But knows that for this season he’s gotta do this alone.
So, friends, please pray for me and for my heart? For all those spouses who have to go at it alone and attack their mission field from familiar ground. And, of course, pray for my husband and his crew while they are in Guatemala this week! Pray for safety, wisdom, Spirit filled speech and actions, and, of course, that they may impact lives for His kingdom while they are there.
Follow my husbands adventures on his blog at http://jeremyreis.com/
and all the amazing FH bloggers at http://fhbloggers.org/
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Matthew 25:34-40
UPDATED: Just so you guys, who may not understand, realize that I’m not alone in this gut wrenching feeling, have a look at this post. She wrote exactly how most of us feel!
Blessings!
