Miss the Mantle

Back in July, I had the tremendous privilege of being present at my first nephew's birth. Mom and I arrived in North Carolina a few days before James made his appearance. Although there was a definite feeling of stress as we tried to help Emma's labor progress more fruitfully, it was wonderful to have that time with her and Stephen. One evening, sitting on the end of their bed, the three of us were visiting and Stephen shared something that impacted me in a tender area. 

1 Kings 19 tells the account of when Elijah finds Elisha plowing with oxen and he casts his mantle over him, a picture of the anointing of Elisha to follow Elijah in the Lord's work as a prophet to Israel. 

"So he (Elijah) departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him...and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him." 1 Kings 19:19

The question is asked, what would have happened if Elisha had not been plowing in the field when Elijah passed by? What if Elisha had grown distrustful of the Lord's calling upon His life and had left to find a new "career" elsewhere? What would Elisha have missed out upon had he not been faithfully performing the duties to which he was entrusted that day? The answer? He would have missed the mantle. What regret there would have been had he not waited faithfully in the field for the Lord to give him the direction to move elsewhere. 

The lesson I took from this was to remain faithful in "my field" no matter what pressures arise for me to move to a new field. When the work is mundane day after day, when my ring finger is still bare, when the many needs of others constantly bombard me, when I feel alone as I watch those around me find life direction, I want to be patient to wait for my "mantle"; would I be faithful. We have no clue what the Lord is preparing us for in the common every day "fields" that each of us works in. 1 Corinthians 2:9 says, 

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."

and in Luke 16:10,

"He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much."

Be faithful in your fields today, sisters. Trust that the Lord is preparing you for what He is preparing for you and that He is faithful to remember your work and labor of love (Hebrews 6:10). We do not want to miss the mantles that Christ is preparing for us. 

Family Life - December 2022

Here it is already February! Our family is certainly ready though for the rest of winter to move on through. We got through January and as Dad says, February is a short month. The Smiths are looking forward to spring. 

Here is a glimpse of our December days...

Cutest elf ever!

Spending a few days up with Grandma. 

While I was at Grandma's, Katie and I went out for
coffee together and then back to their house where we were 
joined by Matthew for dinner. We had a sweet time of fellowship!

The Monday before Christmas, Peaches had an accident that
dislocated her hip. =( Since then she has had surgery and is
gaining better mobility (sigh of relief). 

Ladybug catches a nap on Dad's vacated tractor seat.

Hope, Ella, Leah, and I were out on the farm preparing for the severe
winter weather that came through before Christmas. Starting with rain, 
the temperature began dropping and in just a few hours, it was heavily snowing.

 By the following morning, we have around 1/2 to 1 inch of ice,
the wind chill was in the -20s, with gusts up to 40mph!

Grandma was able to be with us over Christmas weekend!

Keeping water pipes from freezing, yet all the cattle watered was 
challenging. We ran a few set water hydrants and chopped the 
tanks to get to the water underneath the ice or would run fresh water on top. 

All storms pass and so did that one. Emma, Stephen, and James
arrived Monday night. Always great to get this little guy in my arms!

Grandma with her great-grandson.

Spending time in Louisville with Mom's family.

Emma and I (and James) went out for coffee with our
cousin, Allie while we were all together in town over the holidays.
It was a blessing to talk about life, encourage each other in our 
spiritual walks, and laugh together.