There’s nothing quite like seeing your children grow in faith.
Our girls joined the church as communing members recently. Now I’m seeing so much fruit in all of them.
Like this week, when I looked over and saw this:
They brought their own money to give, completely on their own. No nagging, no forcing. And then my heart melts into a puddle of mush and I may even have teared up a bit. My cup overflows.
Know what’s awesome? I get to take time during the day to chaperone a kindergarten field trip with my little dude. He was so excited to have mama has his partner on the beach scavenger hunt!
Working from home is the best ever…
Photo taken at: Barrington Beach
…because I’ve been BURSTING with things I couldn’t tell you.
First of all… Meet Jacob.
My new nephew. This sweet, sweet, darling new love in my life!
I can’t get to see him fast enough. My husband had to restrain me from jumping in my car and driving 12 hours roundtrip in a 24 hour period. I am dying to kiss that little face. He’s even cute when he does this:
Then this morning, my brother-in-law, came home safely from his tour in Afghanistan.
God hears our prayers. Oh yes, he does!!!
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
As I’ve been reading up on the Day of Silence – a student-led national event to end anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools – I’ve been shocked and saddened by what I’ve seen. The antagonistic attitude and message of hate towards homosexuals from the Christian community can be enough to turn your stomach. These issues are certainly a hot topic – the cover of my time magazine this week was a lesbian couple kissing. Its everywhere. But regardless of how I feel about it personally – there is an epidemic of hate and intolerance in the world that needs to stop.
GLSEN’s 2009 National School Climate Survey found that nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT students report verbal, sexual or physical harassment at school and more than 30% report missing at least a day of school in the past month out of fear for their personal safety. Did you read that? More than THIRTY PERCENT of students are missing school out of fear. Another GLSEN study found that in the course of a single school year, two-thirds of teens reported being verbally or physically harassed because of their perceived or actual appearance, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, race/ethnicity, disability or religion.
Its not just about sexual orientation, folks. Kids are bullied for their religion. Their disabilities. Their race. Their clothing, their acne, their parents…. everything is fair game.
That is wrong. I don’t care what religion, race or sexual orientation someone is.
I will stand up. I will teach my children to love their neighbor – whoever that neighbor might be. I will teach them that our differences are something to be celebrated. I will teach them to speak the truth of the Bible, but we are not the ultimate judge. I will teach them to be love and lights in this world and that calling people derogatory names is NOT part of that equation. I will teach them to stand up for people who are being hurt.
I will teach them the value of a human life. And of a human spirit.
I’m having a lot of anxiety lately.
I’m a planner. Its the Type A in me. I even make spreadsheets for vacations. Multiple spreadsheets. Clothing spreadsheets, activity spreadsheets… everything printed out and organized in a folder. I’m super fun to travel with, really. (Its completely genetic, too. My mom and sis are the same way. You should see it when we go on vacation together. EPIC.)
So the fact that we have a moving van booked for a day in June, yet NO IDEA where that moving van will be going to is really getting to me.
I’m trying my best to believe what we keep telling our kids.
That this move is a great adventure. That everything will work out. That there is a home for us. That God is taking care of us.
But some days, its hard to believe the words coming out of my mouth.
Especially when we call to make a bid on a house and find out it sold hours before. Especially when we find a house that fits exactly what is on our ‘Dream House” list and have to watch it slipping out of our grasp. Especially when I have to tell the moving company, “Actually, we don’t know where you’ll be moving us to.” Especially when my daughters are disappointed about a house and ask questions like “Why wouldn’t they want to sell us their house? We would love it and take care of it!” and we have to explain that its about money, not who wants it most. That one is a hard lesson to learn, even as an adult.
I’m just praying for peace. For a house that we can love, where we can raise our family, where we can be part of a community and share with people around us. Praying that I can believe the things I’m telling the kids.
Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27:14
Colin hit his sister in the face with a football. So he was sent to his room for time out while I dealt with his crying sister.
Standing outside his room, I heard his talking and sobbing:
“Help me. Please help me. I hit my sister with a football and I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. Please help me.”
I went in to the room and asked, “Colin, who are you talking to?”
“God.”
“You were praying?”
“I was so sad about how I do bad things. I do so many bad things, Mom. I have so much sin. I need God to help me.”
They’re listening. They really are listening.
I hope that encourages you, Moms. I hope it inspires you to keep teaching these little ones the truth!
Colin won the game we were playing. Since he is all boy, he immediately started running around the living room in circles, pumping his fists in the air, yelling “I’M THE KING OF THE WORLD!! WOOOOOOO!!!! I’M THE KING OF THE WORLD!!”
Then he stopped and looked at me.
“Mom, I’m just joking. I’m not really the king of the world. Jesus is the real King of the world.”
Oh, my heart. I needed that. They are listening. They do remember what we’re trying so hard to teach them.
Its been a weird few weeks.
Losing Gracie was terrifying. Utterly terrifying.
A week later, the kids school was in lock-down for 2 hours due to a suicidal gunman behind the school. (I didn’t write about that before. Couldn’t even find the words.)
Two friends from high school died suddenly.
I’m watching friends and family deal with unbelievably stressful situations.
Finally, on Saturday, I ended up in the ER getting a CT-scan to see why I had a raging headache and vision problems.
I was laying there listening to the CT-scan machine whirl around my head, trying to pray to keep myself calm. What can you even say?
There was only one thing I could think of:
“Your will be done.”
I have seen so much evidence of God’s care in our lives over these past few rough weeks.
I saw Him protect and watch over Gracie when she was lost. I saw him bring her back in my arms, unharmed, when children are hurt and lost every day.
I saw Him watch over the kids, resolving the gunman situation with no one – even the gunman – being harmed, when tragedies like this litter the news almost weekly.
I saw old friends coming together, remembering friends.
I saw His care over friends and family.
I saw His care over me, with a normal scan and my headache getting better.
But I’ve been just smacked in the face lately with how much of life is out of my hands. And how the only thing that is certain is the sovereignty of God. And reminding myself that I need to trust that He is in control in a world that seems out of control. And remembering who holds my life, who holds my family and who holds my future. And trusting, trusting and trusting more that I am in His hands, that “even the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matthew 10:30).
Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
As a family, we constantly are striving to incorporate our faith around our home. A few things we do:
This month, I was so excited to receive a gorgeous piece of art for our walls with one of my favorite verses.
I put it right in the hallway above our bookcase. I love it. We see it every time we walk up the stairs – and its such a reminder of how we want to live our lives! (And I’ve already had someone ask me where we got it!)
I’m already looking at another one! I would love to get this one, with Joshua 1:9 on it for our mudroom. I would love for this to be the last thing we see before leaving the house:
There are tons of great deals on wall art like these on sale this month on DaySpring!
How would you like to pick up some gorgeous (in)spired deals for your home? DaySpring is offering one lucky Girlymama reader a $35 gift certificate to DaySpring!!
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disclosure: i received this dayspring product to facilitate this review. i was not compensated financially and, as always, all opinions are my own.