Different is Good

If you're from Utah you may remember Karl Malone saying that in a Hardees commercial. If you're not, well you probably have no idea what I'm talking about...
Everyday I'm reminded that I'm different. Really we all are, of course, and that's a good thing because how boring the world would be if we weren't. (Pretty sure I learned that from Adventures in Odyssey. Anyway, I'm especially reminded of how different I am raising kids here in east Texas.... For instance:
•I do want a lot of kids and I want to homeschool them all.
•Jordan and I didn't wait the (seems to be) required two years to start having babies.
•We are trusting God with how many we have and when we have them, we've never used birth control.
•we don't have college degrees and (if it's God's will) may never
•we will continue to try for our homebirth we so desperately desire
•we cloth diaper and co sleep
•I eat sushi and drink caffeine when I'm pregnant
•we don't own a house but we do own two cars that take turns breaking down each month
•we've never used an infant carseat (we do use carseats! Convertible ones)
•we don't vaccinate our kids
•we choose to live off one income
•I've never bought rice cereal for my babies.
These may be major differences or tiny ones, they may be personal convictions laid on our hearts right now or just a matter of preference, they may be different circumstances or choices, they may be different parenting styles or perspectives. They don't make me or my kids better or worse.
But I am different. And daily I'm reminded of it which is why I'm writing this post. To remind myself that God uses our differences to glorify himself and to add to his kingdom, not to make us comfy or to surround us with like-minded people or to add to our statuses.
It's hard to feel different from everyone around us and some days it hits me like a sack of bricks. Especially being so far from my family who I have so much in common with and who i can always count on to share my point of view.
But while I thought I was teaching Adelaide Old Testament stories, God was using it to show me simple truths:
Noah was different. and was scoffed at for choosing to build an ark while believing that God would destroy humanity. I've almost felt scoffed at for choosing to trust God with the amount of blessings, I mean kids, he wants us to have even when finances are tight (God can afford it). Moses felt inadequate to speak for the Lord when his people needed him. Just like I feel inadequate every time I think of the giant responsibility of motherhood and of educating my children when they're ready. Paul knows what it's like to be content in every situation. And this, I am learning.
If I view my own differences from my own sinful perspective, like I do almost daily, my focus and objective is self seeking. But God never promised me I'd feel secure in my decisions and choices or confident and accepted by others in my obedience to Him.
I sing these words to Adelaide almost every night and I find so much comfort just knowing this truth:
{My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus' blood and righteousness}

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