No Ordinary Home – Chapter 9 overview

Winter – both physical and spiritual. A time of silence…. a time when it appears that all around us is dying or “on hold.” A time when “God seems as removed as the daffodils.”

Mrs Brazo reviews her first real spiritual winter – at the end of her first year of marriage…her husband enduring surgery for cancer, her father in law dying and a move back to southern California.

She speaks of the pain of enduring Father’s silence during those days. Not only had they moved away from friends, they were unable to find a new home church once they moved. Now, not only silence, but loneliness added to their grief.

During this time, she found comfort and support in the books she was reading – Jesse Penn Lewis, CS Lewis, Hannah Whitall Smith and Hannah Hurnard. The rehearsing of Scripture, memorizing and meditating became even more important. Hebrews 10:35-39 were were especially meaningful.  These writings became a matter of life and death to her spirit.

It was during this time that she understood for the first time, that she was in a battle. So, she went to Scripture to learn how to fight this battle.

“There I will give her back her vineyards and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt.” ~ This verse from Hosea (2:15) provided her with a vision of where she was headed – toward a door of hope, a place where she would sing youthfully. She continued to bask in the Word, seeking all that the Holy Spirit would offer to minister to her.

From Hebrews 12:28 she learned to see thankfulness as a form of worship….a sacrifice of praise. She learned the necessity of keeping her eyes focused on Jesus and searching for glimpses of her eternal Bridegroom.  They seemed like a haven, as each one reminded her again of who was in control – and who her Lord was.  Song of Solomon, in  particular was a continual source of encouragement….because the Groom ALWAYS got the girl. 

 As the land undergoes the seeming dormancy of winter, Mrs Brazo encourages us to use those days to teach our children lessons of the winter of the soul.  She speaks of having her children bring in the signs of winter.  The decor of the house is stark.  They sort and declutter.  They only keep out just a few toys, putting the remainder of them into the attic.

They enter a time of living with less “fat” – fewer desserts, fewer red meats, less heavy dairy products.  It is a season of enjoying less.

Because winter seasons are puzzling to us, they also work jigsaw puzzles.  She feels that it will teach her children to know that a good and wonderful picture will eventually appear.

The snow….the beautiful snow – it is a reminder of our Savior who came to wash us white as snow.

“And so we celebrate physical winter in the hope that when the spiritual winter overtakes us again, we will be ready.”

Thank you Mrs Brazo for such an encouraging lesson.