Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11
It was a summer Sunday afternoon and we have a everyone-rests-on-Sunday policy, so this afternoon lent itself to a bit more quiet time and a few minutes to think some of my own thoughts without them being hijacked by the needs of my precious littles.
I sat in a lounge chair in our backyard enjoying unexpected breezes on the hot summer day. And I looked up at the clouds curling around the sun. Minutes ago, the clouds had filled the sky entirely and the sun’s warmth was faint. Now, blue sky cracked through the cloud-curls and the sun made my cheeks hot.
What does that even mean? I thought. That He has set eternity in my heart. A heavier cloud slipped over the sun–it means so much. Perhaps most importantly, it means I will never be satisfied with what this earth has to offer; it means I’m not home yet.
Eternity is set in my heart. It’s set it my husband’s heart, my children’s hearts, and the heart of my neighbor who doesn’t know Jesus.
And when I forget that, when I start acting like I’m home here, and finish lines and applause here are what matter, and as if my most important preparations are for next week’s menu, I will feel an aching.
I will be anxious and insatiable because we’re made for eternity and our soul knows it.
So, what do we do? How do we get ready for eternity while living in a temporal world with needy little people?
Some ways to get ready:
1) Get to know the one you’ll be spending eternity worshiping–we were created by Him and for Him. Be in His Word daily and His presence throughout the day. (Need help getting regular time in the Word? Check out Loving God Greatly or She Reads Truth)
2) Use your resources (money, time, talents, your mini-van and your house) to show God’s love for people and desire to be with them.
And, momma, meeting the needs of you little ones with soft touch and gentle words is doing just that–your relationship here with your little people is preparing them for an eternal relationship with our King.
3) When trials come, act like they are temporary (because they are), and as my pastor says, “training for the reigning!”