Jami Amerine - Sacred Ground, Sticky Floors: How Less-Than-Perfect Parents Can Raise (Kind of) Great Kids

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

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Names and details have been changed in some real-life stories to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.

Sacred Ground, Sticky Floors

Copyright 2018 Jami Amerine

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97408

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

ISBN 978-0-7369-7061-7 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-0-7369-7062-4 (eBook)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Amerine, Jami, author.

Title: Sacred ground, sticky floors / Jami Amerine.

Description: Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, [2018] | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018008241 (print) | LCCN 2018021488 (ebook) | ISBN 9780736970624 (ebook) | ISBN 9780736970617 (pbk.)

Subjects: LCSH: MothersReligious life. | MotherhoodReligious aspectsChristianity.

Classification: LCC BV4529.18 (ebook) | LCC BV4529.18 .A44 2018 (print) | DDC 248.8/431dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018008241

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To my husband, JustinI like you.

To my children:

Maggie, for the gift of grace.

John, for making me brave.

Luke, for making me real.

Sophie, for wisdom.

Sam, for expanding my borders.

Charlie, for showing me I can.

Joy-Babyfor the joy. Pure joy.

And for every child we welcome,

whether you stay or go,

may you know the truth of Jesus Christ,

that you are of noble birth and

you were loved fearlessly

here on the sacred ground.

CONTENTS

I was a know-it-all mom until that inaugural night in the hospital with my first child. I would never statements quickly became fallacies as I agreedfrom the foggy haze of sleep deprivationmy infant could have formula and a pacifier. Of course, there is nothing wrong with this, but try telling that to an overly ambitious first-time mama. I was shocked when my well-calculated plan was challenged by an eight-pound, three-ounce little darling.

Motherhood continued to unravel my tightly wound self with all its bumps, twists, and surprises. I have five really great kids (a toddler, a kindergartner, two tweens, and a teen), but they are far from angelic and definitely strong-willed (just like their mom). I used to think that if I just tried harder, my kids would act better. But the harder I tried, the more discouraged I felt.

These glorious humans have a mind of their own, which doesnt often line up with my unrealistic, lofty ideals. When I try to parent from a place of perfection, I set us all up for frustration. Yet I dont want to throw in the towel either, because raising these children is a noble calling, and they have amazing things to offer the world. For instance, one of them helped initiate a campaign to fund a well for a needy community overseas. Another child holds doors open for others without prompting. And one son begged me to give his allowance to a homeless man.

It can be tempting to measure our worth by the exemplary behavior of our offspring, or to discount our worth because of their foolish choices. Yet Jami invites us to parent from a different perspective. One that is steeped in hope and not puffed up by accolades or sabotaged by sticky circumstances.

Sacred Ground, Sticky Floors contains a refreshing dose of hilarity mixed with heart-wrenching moments and topped with guiltlifting revelations.

Jami writes from a place of raising man-babies and a runaway bride, parenting a prodigy, fostering littles, and carting around vandals. She has launched some of her kids, wants to drop-kick a couple, and loves them all fiercely. Jami no longer parents from a place of panic.

And we dont have to either. We dont have to wring our hands, think through every worst-case scenario, or hide the fact that our children are far from perfect. Our lack of having it together is cause for Jesus to be enough for us (parents and offspring alike).

Jami wisely offers, Yes, I can comfort and love and nurture. But if I fix everything for everyone, why do they need Jesus? If Im meeting every single tear or whimper with warm chocolate chip cookies and physical and spiritual Band-Aids, when will they fall into the arms of their Jesus?

Do we want the best for our kids? Of course. But we cant force them into pure belief or give them a willing heart to receive His goodness. Thats above our pay grade. The best thing we can do is receive the strength and grace of our Heavenly Father and walk out our birthright as His daughters. As our kids watch us do that, I believe they will be forever changed.

Jami gently guides us to the heart of non-frantic parenting. Come on in, pardon the sticky, and discover how to parent from a place of peace.

Katie M. Reid

author of Made Like Martha

(from a loud room in her home, with children throwing things)

All of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lordwho is the Spiritmakes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

2 CORINTHIANS 3:18

H e arrived by state transport in a worn and tattered car seat. It was the Thursday evening before a long holiday weekend when the 90s silver Toyota Corolla pulled up in front of our Texas home. The evening was still slightly warm, and the sky was exploding with all the colors of the setting sun. On this cul-de-sac, a symphony of tragedy and triumph played out as a battered baby boy arrived safely at his new home.

My family, all seven of us, stood on the front porch and watched as the plump woman from the state tugged at the car seat, with the mystery boy strapped inside, and finally finagled it out of the impossibly tiny back seat. My eldest daughter, Maggie, put both hands over her eyes and, under her breath, gasped, Please be careful.

The state representative, aware of the spectacle in which she was center stage, waved and offered assurances. Got it! Sorry, Im not used to these big car seats! My husband, Justin, walked over to help. She halted him with one hand and said, You can take my briefcase. The boy was still her ward and responsibility. He did not yet belong to our arms, our home, our hearts.