It's one thing to demonstrate our values to our children. They see how we choose compassion instead of ignoring the beggar at the traffic light. We find ways to include them in our acts of generosity, encouraging them to give rather than always take, always focus on getting. As we explore how to build friendships across cultural and economic barriers, our kids experience that it is OK to have friends that are different. Sometimes we might even share with them our pain at the brokenness in our country, our anger that the unfair ways that many are treated. Our kids can't help but taste, see and feel what is in our hearts.
It is another thing to share all of this with the other moms with whom we rub shoulders at play groups, moms groups, whilst waiting to fetch our kids from school or as we chat at a playdate intiated by our children. Some of these moms have the same faith as us, others not. Some of these moms are caught up in the culture of materialism, status and performance. This is not surprising given that the suburbs where we live are stewing in the values of "having the most stylish house" and "wearing the trendiest clothes" and "going to the right schools" and "having that holiday home" and and and.
So do we just keep our heads down and try to get through these encounters moms who value different things to us; or are these opportunities for the Kingdom. Are these moments where we can shine the light of passion for justice and restoration and compassion? Of course we long to be real and authentic. We desire to have integrity, not hiding parts of our selves that might be different. But know that when we share our hearts for social justice it may not be understood, and it may not be well received. We know that the light of social justice shines on how we spend our money, how we give and how much, how we treat those working for us in our homes, how we view those who are different, how we view those who are poorer, and many other life choices. We know that these issues provoke a strong response, they are not nuetral, polite conversation fillers. People get offended, not wanting to change, angry at the guilt that might rise in their hearts. They may not want to hang out with us again. They may not want their kids to play with our kids. Yet other people will be convicted, just like we have, and start looking at how to live life differently, they will be drawn to the hope we have that God's kingdom is advancing to bring hope to the hopeless and freedom for the captives.
So I encourage you moms, to rest in the Holy Spirit, to receive love and affirmation in your Father's arms so that you can shine your life, your passion, your views, your life-changing decisions as you rub shoulders with other moms. That you will be your whole self - not just the part of your self that won't offend or be controversial. That you will speak truth in love. That your words would be salt and light and like a double-edge sword. That your heart will never judge, but always love. And that God will use us to share his heart for reconcilitation and restoration of this nation with the mothers that we encounter in our every day lives.
