Yarn Along

Welcome to the slightly late Yarn Along.  I normally work on my Yarn Along post on Tuesday night.  However, last night I was struck with a migraine.  It was first coming on when I was getting the kiddos to bed, and I didn’t take my Excedrine Migraine in time.  Actually, once they were in bed, I couldn’t find the medicine so I took some asprin with a cup of coffee instead.  Too late, because I was in bed about 9:30.  Knut was still planting in the fields and said he knew I felt sick because I never go to bed that early!

So anyway, I’d love to join the Yarn Along this week, and since I feel so extremely rested this morning, I think I shall.  Those who want to take a peek at some other Yarn Alongs, join the party at Ginny’s blog.

 

Getting back on topic, the book I’ve really been enjoying (besides the companionship of Mike and his steamshovel, Maryanne) has been George Muller: The Guardian of Bristol’s Orphans.  Well, I’ve still been enjoying The Wheel on the School, but I think Silje would say that this book is her favorite.  It’s written in a bit more simple language, and I appreciate how delicately they describe his indiscretions of his youth.

This book has been amazingly convicting!  I can’t go a chapter in it without God talking to my heart.  For instance, George falls in love with a woman named Mary.  She has a large nose and over 30, is considered an old maid of her time.  Still, she is very learned, and smart and has a heart for God.  He was hesitant to marry her because he didn’t want anything holding him back from following God at a moment’s notice.  She said that a good marriage would push you to God’s will, not hold you back.

So they got married.  Mary brought with her 4 trunks, which shocked George.  So much stuff!  When George was at work, she took out her family treasures, one by one.  The family china, silver, and tapestries were her inheritance, and she had been waiting to use them her whole life.  She polished and cleaned, until their home was warm and inviting.  She couldn’t wait for George to get home.

When he got home, his reaction wasn’t what she had hoped.  He sat down in shock, and told his wife it all had to go.  Everything.  He said God had called him to live simply, and teach people what relying on God looked like.  He couldn’t possibly do what God called him to if he was surrounded by so much “stuff.”  He said it all had to go, and that was final.  Let me ask you: if that were your husband, how would you react?

This is what Mary did.  When George got home from work the next day, everything was gone, and there was a pile of money on their simple table.  Determined, she looked at her husband and said, “If you think it should be gone, it’s gone.  Do with the money what you think is best, George.  If God is leading you, I want to come with.  I’ll follow your lead anywhere.”  To which her husband started crying, and just held his wife sobbing for the love that she showed.

This book has made me ask so many questions about my own heart.  Do I show my husband my commitment to his leadership like that?  Do I even listen to God with that much willingness to follow?  Isn’t my comfort, and my treasures, and my dreams what I put first?  O, I recommend this book!  But proceed with caution. You can’t read it and not see God work.