This is what the 1828 Webster's dictionary has to say about Thriving:
THRIVE, v.i.
1. To grow; to increase in bulk or stature; to flourish. Young cattle thrive in rich pastures; and trees thrive in a good soil.
2. To grow; to advance; to increase or advance in any thing valuable.
3. To prosper by industry, economy and good management of property; to increase in goods and estate. A farmer thrives by good husbandry. When the body of laboring men thrive, we pronounce the state prosperous. Diligence and humility is the way to thrive in the riches of the understanding, as well as in gold.
It puts me in mind of Peter's words in 2 Peter 3:18, "...grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
This is my prayer for our home. That we would be like the trees of Proverbs 1:3, planted by the waters, who "yields it's fruit in it's season and it's leaf does not wither." And why does this happen?
Because "His delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law he meditates day and night".
Most of the time, being a mother frightens the living daylights out of me.
The responsibility of "good husbandry", of nurturing my children (and my home) to thrive, to flourish and to increase is immense.
But I'm realizing that the secret is simply to delight fully in the Lord. To meditate on Him during the repetitive monotony of dishes and diapers. To ponder His word in the wee hours of the morning when babies cry to be fed. To talk about Him at the breakfast table. To sing of Him when my back is aching and my tired eyelids are drooping. To tell of His strength when five year olds are having nightmares. To point out His creativity on the way to the grocery store.
Because that is how they will see. That is what they will remember. And that is how they will thrive and grow in grace.
No matter how hard I strive to guide and clean or to discipline and teach on my own (all good things mind you), it's delighting in the Lord that will be the fruit growing, leaf bolstering, soul thriving work.
What a relief! What joy! What peace! What a weight lifted from my heart.
It's not my work, it's God's.
Thriving is Delighting.
1. To grow; to increase in bulk or stature; to flourish. Young cattle thrive in rich pastures; and trees thrive in a good soil.
2. To grow; to advance; to increase or advance in any thing valuable.
3. To prosper by industry, economy and good management of property; to increase in goods and estate. A farmer thrives by good husbandry. When the body of laboring men thrive, we pronounce the state prosperous. Diligence and humility is the way to thrive in the riches of the understanding, as well as in gold.
It puts me in mind of Peter's words in 2 Peter 3:18, "...grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
This is my prayer for our home. That we would be like the trees of Proverbs 1:3, planted by the waters, who "yields it's fruit in it's season and it's leaf does not wither." And why does this happen?
Because "His delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law he meditates day and night".
Most of the time, being a mother frightens the living daylights out of me.
The responsibility of "good husbandry", of nurturing my children (and my home) to thrive, to flourish and to increase is immense.
But I'm realizing that the secret is simply to delight fully in the Lord. To meditate on Him during the repetitive monotony of dishes and diapers. To ponder His word in the wee hours of the morning when babies cry to be fed. To talk about Him at the breakfast table. To sing of Him when my back is aching and my tired eyelids are drooping. To tell of His strength when five year olds are having nightmares. To point out His creativity on the way to the grocery store.
Because that is how they will see. That is what they will remember. And that is how they will thrive and grow in grace.
No matter how hard I strive to guide and clean or to discipline and teach on my own (all good things mind you), it's delighting in the Lord that will be the fruit growing, leaf bolstering, soul thriving work.
What a relief! What joy! What peace! What a weight lifted from my heart.
It's not my work, it's God's.
Thriving is Delighting.
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