Enchanting
Once upon a time, I had a wonderful little boutique named Enchantments. It was there that I learned I love serving women. What started as an enchanting little shop where people could find reasonably priced fashions, jewelry, and gifts ended up being what God would use to call me into full-time service to women.
Recently, while doing some COVID-19 isolation cleaning and organizing of drawers and closets, I ran across these hats and flower pins. As I carefully removed them from their boxes, my heart was filled with sweet memories. I loved that little shop because there I was able to create a space where all who entered would find beauty and comfort. Because it was a small little shop, each item was hand-selected and many items were a one of a kind. It was so fun finding things that others would enjoy.
Many hurting women came through the doors of Enchantments. Some would allow me to pray with them. Others trusted me with their tears and allowed me to hug them. I knew they needed more because I needed more. You see this was also a place and time of healing for me. I didn’t exactly know what to do with my life. With dreams of motherhood freshly and completely shattered, what was my purpose? “What now, Lord?”
It was also during this same time that we were loving and serving in a wonderful church. I had the privilege of hosting small group Bible studies for women in my home and eventually at church. Guess what I learned? I love, love, love discovering treasures from God’s Word for myself, and sharing them with others. Best thing ever!
During the days of Enchantments, God brought two important pieces of my life to light and together.
My passion for knowing and sharing God’s Word.
Women are my people group!
I remember well that moment when God impressed upon my heart to close Enchantments. “NO! Why?” It was late summer and I had just placed orders for things to be delivered in time for the holidays. Pretty things. I didn’t understand because I thought Enchantments was a great purpose! I knew God was moving me to offer more Bible studies for women but surely I could do both, right? All my convincing didn’t change what I knew God was putting on my heart to do. In obedience, I canceled the orders, began to sell off the remaining items in the shop, and close it. Just in time for fall Bible studies to start. I guess to torture myself, I went to one last boutique show and as I walked the isles looking at all the merchandise — some of which I had ordered and canceled — I talked to the Lord. “Why? I don’t understand.” Honest to goodness, it was the last aisle I walked when God finally responded to my pleas. No, not an audible voice, but by His Spirit and into my heart and mind. Do you know what He said?
“Sally, I will show you things even more beautiful. Exceedingly, abundantly beyond all you can ask or think.” Oh, and has He ever!
My purpose? Spiritually mothering women. Here’s what that means and how it looks:
"The name El Shaddai and Scripture surely give value to mothering, but they also imply a capacity for mothering that has been given to women. Biological birthing is not the activator of this capacity; women who have never given physical birth still have this mothering capacity and can exhibit mothering characteristics.
The development of this mothering capacity is affected by instinct and learning but is hindered by sin. When the Holy Spirit produces faith in a woman, she becomes a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). A dramatic result of her newness is her even greater potential for the development of this female capacity. The Christian woman not only has a new Pattern, she has a new Power.
As a woman’s growing desire to imitate God produces obedience to His Word, she develops mothering characteristics. Our femaleness gives us the capacity for mothering; our faith produces certain characteristics of mothering. Some characteristics we see from the Scriptures are strength, excellence, tenderness, generosity, desire to nurture, comfort, compassion, affection, protection, and sacrifice. These characteristics are relational – they simply will not allow a person to be an isolationist. The possession of these characteristics creates an intense desire to nurture and to be nurtured. The results in the recipients are security and fruitfulness. They will flourish like grass." — Susan Hunt
Having the privilege of spiritually mothering the children God adopts into His family? Now, that’s enchanting.
Be encouraged. God is putting all the pieces of your life— even the broken ones — together in a way that someday…will take your breath away.
