Family stuff

Two texts in the Old Testament apply to Christ. The first is, "Thou art fairer than the children of men" (Ps. 45:2), and the second is, "He hath no form nor comeliness" (Isa. 53:2). Evidently these passages must be understood in differing sense. To the eyes of the flesh, he was the lowest among the sons of men, a derision, and to the eyes of the spirit there was none fairer than he. The eyes of the flesh cannot see this. What, then is the nature of this beauty? It is wisdom and love, light for the understanding, and power for the soul, for in suffering and dying Christ displayed all the wisdom and the truth. All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him, and they are hidden because they are visible only to the eye of the spirit. His beauty is His own, and through it we learn to know Him. His uncomeliness and passion are ours, and in them we know ourselves, for what he suffered in the flesh, we must inwardly suffer in the spirit. Here, then, in an unspeakably clear mirror you see yourself. You must know that through your sins you are a uncomely and mangled as you see Him here.

- from True Contemplation of the Cross, Martin Luther

During family time we have been really thinking about Jesus and the cross. What it really meant for Him to die, even though He knew He would live. What it meant to be mocked, spit on, beaten - even though He could have crushed those fools to death. All for love. All to be our example of how to turn the other cheek, how to stand strong in times of trouble. What an example. It is an encouragement to not settle but to set our standards high, holy. It is an encouragement to me as a mom, to keep on keeping on with the right stuff. The right stuff being, is that acceptable? is it right in God's eyes? If not, do something about it. Every once in awhile I need another nudge to get the house in order. In today's world it is hard to set your standards high. I mean Jesus high, without feeling like you are trying to be goody goody girl. As my kid's get older, I can easily feel a little different. It brings me to my knees, it brings me to ask more questions. Praise God, He has been putting people in my direction that have either been there, done that OR are going through it as we speak and wish they would have done it a little differently. I praise God for His goodness. He has been reassuring us that it's going to look different, feel different but it is what He is calling us to do.