Five Questions with Lacey Sturm (of Flyleaf)
Jesus once said that you would know who His followers are by their love. I think when He said that, Jesus was describing Lacey. Her love for God and deep knowledge of His love for her overflow to everyone she meets. She has a powerful voice, a sincere faith, and a beautiful family. I hope her words are as encouraging to you as they were to me.
1. How has being a mom changed you?
Being a mom has taught me to forget myself in certain ways, and there is a crazy sweet freedom in that. It has helped narrow my priorities so it’s easier to know when certain decisions are absolutely the right ones. Jack reminds me to see the magic in everything, so I experience wonder and joy in deeper ways. I laugh a lot more. I feel more free to be myself as a mom than I have ever felt.
2. Tell me about your tattoos.
My left leg above my ankle is a swan. There was a woman who was like a mother to me growing up named Maureen. I was teased in school a lot and whenever I would talk to her about it she would always tell me the story of the ugly duckling and that one day I would grow up to be a beautiful swan. She died of skin cancer and I got the swan to remember her, since after an ugly battle with cancer, she has now become a beautiful swan too.
My newest one on my upper right arm says daughter and laughter. It’s a reminder that my identity is in the fact that I am a daughter of God and if I understand that then I don’t have to worry about being acceptable to anyone but God, or about defending myself, protecting myself or saving my own life. I can rest in the fact that my heavenly Father is the King of the universe and that He loves me more than I can understand. Because of this I’m free to laugh like it talks about in Proverbs 31 how a wife of noble character can laugh at the future and not be afraid of it.
The one on my left forearm says Beulah from Isaiah 62:4. It means married. My husband designed the vines around the word.
3, Do you have a favorite prayer that you pray?
Before I answer this, I want to say that I heard Rob Bell say something once that really messed up my prayer life. He said something like, “What is God doing up there? Letting some people’s children starve to death, and then finding parking spots for others?” After I heard this, 99 percent of my life seemed too trivial to talk to God about.
But recently my pastor told a story about a man who waited 6 months for a 15 minute meeting with the Prince of England. The man memorized his speech, timing himself. When he finally walked in to see the Prince, before he could open his mouth, a side door to the Prince’s office opened and in walks Prince Charles’ son, William. The little boy says, “Daddy, my airplane is broken. Fix it Daddy?” His entire fifteen minutes were taken up by the pressing issue of William’s broken toy. The prince turned to the man and said with an unapologetic smile, “I’m sorry we didn’t get to meet today. You’ll have to reschedule.” My pastor then pointed out, “If it’s important to you, it’s important to God.” I cried a little in that moment over a refreshed understanding of the kindness of God. My prayer life was restored.
That said, my favorite kind of prayers are the ones where I’m irrationally overwhelmed and ask God something like, “Where do I start to clean up this kitchen?” And in a moment I feel his kindness, I feel his joy that I want to talk to him about it instead of complain, like I normally would have, I feel his peace as my eyes fall on the sugar and realize God has said, (like a good friend would, who genuinely loves my company, even if we are just cleaning the kitchen), “Start with the sugar.” These kinds of prayers are the ones that maintain my faith for the bigger things, because if he is willing to help me find the keys Jack buried at the bottom of the dirty clothes hamper, then I know He is willing to deliver my brother from substance abuse.
How much more does my heavenly Father answer my heart’s most important prayers if He answers the least important ones? Besides that I love just hanging out with God, acknowledging His presence, no matter what I’m doing. He’s definitely there in the crazy times but it never ceases to amaze me that He is just as present when I’m doing laundry. It’s so humble and so kind of Him.
4. What’s an average Tuesday like for you?
Tuesday is a day where I hang out with Jack in the morning, then we steal a lunch date with Josh. Then Jack takes a nap while I answer facebook messages and try to answer questions about God, suicide and the meaning of life. Then he wakes up and we play outside if its nice, or watch a movie and color.
5. If you could give a message to 15-year-old you, what would it be?
Don’t give up, it will be worth it. Wait for Josh. Until then, forget about romance and live your life to the full!
Oh, and you can’t save people, only Jesus can, and he loves them alot more than you ever could. Don’t make people idols, everyone needs a Savior and Jesus is the only man who was ever God in the human form. He is the only one who will never fail you and the only one who deserves your worship. And His opinion about you is the only one that really matters.
You are not a burden, an accident, or a mistake. You are meant for amazing things that you can not even imagine for yourself.
published October 19, 2012
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