Life with Sally

I am seeing how much kindness means to me — to be served so sweetly, without any malice or resentment, through the loving acts of my family. It is the kindness of God I have experienced, and now I am more than ever moved to learn to become more kind, considerate in active ways to others who need my attention.

Millions of people all over the world have been brought closer to Christ through this transforming story so beautifully presented in full color through episodes that draw us into the intimacy of the stories Jesus lived. I hope you will watch The Chosen, directed by Dallas Jenkins, with your family.

In This Beautiful Truth, Sarah Clarkson shares her encounters with beauty in the midst of her decade-long struggle with mental illness, depression, and doubt. In a voice both vulnerable and reflective, she paints a compelling picture of the God who reaches out to us in a powerful way through the 'taste and see' goodness of what He has made and what continues to create amid our darkness.

Preparing to become mature at loving God or preparing my children to become adults who knew how to love started with teaching them God's most important commandment: to love Him with all their hearts, souls, and minds.

If we live breathing the depth of God's love for ourselves, we come to understand that God's love is essential to our understanding of Him, what drove Him to the cross, what He longs to share with us. Love is the essence of God's character. Join me today as I elaborate on verses that speak about God's steadfast love as a model for what we are to grow into.

Many years ago, Clay and I dreamed up the idea of Our 24 Family Ways as we discussed our desire to disciple our children as we walked along the path of life together. As parents of young children, we wanted them to have strong foundations of godly character and an understanding of what it meant to please God so that they could develop integrity.

What if God designed home, motherhood, & family to be the foundational community upon which society was to emerge from — a place of truth, goodness, & wholeness? What if we were designed to be caretakers of such a task because of the sacredness God placed on women because of His great esteem for them?

I have realized over the years that the most important element to a Christian parent, in regards to discipline, is not the method, but the heart attitude towards God as a Father of us. When we become our children's advocates, always for them, defending them, protecting them, we are helping them grow as we extend the mercy, kindness, and teachings of God.

Your faithfulness matters. The moments of lifegiving relationships, truth discussed, virtue modeled, happens over thousands of days, many years, lots of laying down of life. You are writing your own story of faith and faithfulness. Join me today and be encouraged in your own life to live faithfully.

Your children long to see you as their heroes — those who inspire, live with courage, bring truth to bear in your generation. Each of us has a part. You will love the tales we talk about today and perhaps someone will be telling your faithful tale to others who need courage to live as women of valiance and light. Enjoy and be inspired.