Book Review- Marriage To a Difficult Man- The Uncommon Union of Jonathan & Sarah Edwards

Yes, I agree, this is an odd title for a book, but behind the title is one of the most impactful books that I have ever read. I have two books on my shelf that I consider to have made the strongest impression on my goals as a future wife, mother, and homemaker and this is one of them. Through the example set before you in this book, you will find your desires grow to raise a God-first family, be faithful in hospitality, follow submissively and lovingly your husband's goals, and create a home that is truly the center of the family. 

    Marriage To a Difficult Man is a biography, primarily on Sarah Edwards. It recounts her courtship, marriage, and subsequent years with her husband Jonathan (who himself referred to their marriage as uncommon), arguably one of the greatest theologians America has ever produced, the growth of their family, the joys and turmoil of pastoring a stagnant church, and having a constant flow of visitors through her home when housekeeping was without the modern conveniences that we take for granted today. You read about the season in Sarah's life when she reached her breaking point spiritually, but then rejoice with her as she rebounds to physical health and a renewed joy in the Lord's finished work on the cross for her personally. 

        There is not much more that I can say here except to strongly encourage you to put this on your reading list.  You will find yourself encouraged, convicted, edified, and goals settled as you read over this incredible piece of literature. 

"When one lives in a cynical world that has forgotten the beauty and power of a truly purposeful Christian marriage it is crucial to step back in time and walk with that generation of Christians for whom such a truth was not merely an ideal to be pursued, but a living reality. From page one to the end, Marriage to a Difficult Man grips the reader and refreshes the soul by allowing us to intimately peer into one of the greatest unions of man and woman in recorded history." (from an endorsement of the book)  

Family Life - June & July

 

June and July. Both were busy months filled with trips, storms, farm work, weekends with Grandma, projects, and time spent with special friends.

So here is a glimpse of some of the highlights from the previous two months!

I continued traveling on weekends to be a companion 
to Grandma as well as give assistance in various areas
of need. I know that I will never regret the time I spent 
with her. Here we are at Hobby Lobby picking out 
birthday and anniversary cards for family members.

While out in town for the purpose of grocery shopping, Ella 
and I popped into a children's consignment store. I went on
a baby onesie-buying spree when I came across the $1.50
rack! I'll need all these at some point, I am sure.

Florida prison ministry trip-June 2023

Grandma and I went and picked out flowers for her front
porch. Flowers make both Grandma and me so happy, so it
was a successful and happy day. 

We experienced a large series of storms through June and July.
One of the most serious occurred in mid-June when we had some
extremely high winds that had us in the hallway awaiting possible
tornadoes. We lost many trees, the side of a hay barn, and a heifer, 
but the losses could have been much higher, so we are thankful. 
We have watched the Lord encircle our farm with His protection
again and again. Storms have split on either side of the farm, gone
around us, or completely faded out before it reached us. We do not
take His sovereign care lightly and give Him all the glory.

Caden and Joel cutting a tree off a fence. 

One of the many blessings of growing up on a farm is the 
abundant wild blackberry bushes! This summer I gave a 
try at wild blackberry jam! A unanimous success! 

My cousin Kate and I taking a walk while I was in
Louisville with Grandma one weekend. 

Esther has been a sweet friend for several years now. She was 
working at the Bill Rice Ranch when I served a summer there in 
2019 and was an invaluable support to me and our friendship has
carried on past that summer. I had the privilege of being in "the 
know" when Isaac first began to show obvious interest in her, I
walked alongside her during their dating and subsequent engagement,
helped clean her apartment and move her belongings to her new home,
and attended her wedding! This summer, I had the great joy of getting to
hold baby Anna Rose who I prayed for, even before she was conceived!
It has been such a privilege to pray for the future mates and children of
my friends and then get to see the answers to those prayers unfold. Life
is such a miracle!

Grandma enjoys watching the birds that come to her feeder.

Sorting kale to freeze for smoothies. I am thankful for these memories.

In mid-July, my prison ministry, AmyGrace, and I both traveled to
Indiana to spend a few days with our friend MaryEllen, who served
with the prison ministry until the Lord called her to the ministry of 
marriage and motherhood.

We had two cats, who we believe were dropped, make their
way to our home and promptly adopted us!

Emma, Stephen, and James came at the end of July, and we
were able to celebrate Emma's 27th birthday and James' 1st! 

While they were in town, we traveled up to Louisville for 
Grandma, as well as the rest of the Louisville family, to spend
some special time with Emma, Stephen, and James. Here Grandma
points out "her birds" to James.

June and July were blessed months and I am grateful. The summer has been slow in some respects and sped by in other ways. It has been a summer of continuing to seek the Lord and often the strong feeling of needing Him more. I am thankful that He is patient with this "work in progress". He is wonderful!

He Only Does Good

 

This post is based on a passage I have been meditating on for a while now. It has touched my heart in a special way and brought a precious amount of peace. 

"Thou art good and doest good; teach me Thy statutes."      Psalm 119:68

Earlier this spring, a large decision was on the table that affected our family as a whole, but myself personally in several ways. The final decision was not up to me and my mind and emotions were in turbulence as I wrestled and cried over the factors of the choice and the various changes that the final result would bring. Finally, the Lord set my heart at rest. 

I am thankful for how the Lord uses books written by fellow Christians to teach and bless our hearts. In one of my all-time favorite books, "Queechy" by Susan Warner, there is a dialogue where Hugh is talking to Fleda and I have rehearsed that section over and over to myself.

"I had been disbelieving it ("Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart." Psalm 73:1); and because I could not see how things were going to work good, I thought they were going to work evil. I thought we were wearing out our lives alone here in a wearisome way, and I forgot that it must be the very straightest way that we could get home. I am sure we shall not want anything that will do us good; and the rest I am willing to want..." ("Queechy" chapter 28)

The decision was made. It was final, and it was not what I had desired the outcome would be, but the Lord set my heart to quietness. He is good and only does good! It is not in His nature to do evil, it is impossible for Him, for if He did, it would be sin. Only good can He bring to pass. Even the events that occur that we view as evil, are still good in His eyes for, if we are a child of God, He is only allowing in our lives what will bring us more into the likeness of Jesus Christ and that is a good work indeed. I could rest in God in the decision. He is writing a story with all the characters in mind, He sees the perfect and eternal scope of life, so could not I trust Him that this turn in the story was for good? 

Where is your turn in your story? The turn that you never thought would be in the plan. Singleness? Infertility? Lack of a job? Relational difficulties? The loss of a friend? Relinquish it to His hands, set your eyes upon Him, and trust that He is accomplishing His perfect and good will in your life. Does this take away the pain? No indeed, but it does quiet the spirit with confidence that we have a loving Father Who only works out His good plan for our eternal good. So we can boldly say, along with Paul, that "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28