The Gift of a Weekend

 "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him" -Matthew 7:11

My husband and I went away for the weekend. It wasn't something we'd planned, considered, or even thought possible. But, when my brother called and asked us to share their work trip with them, we started calling grandparents to see if they could watch the kids. We even had airline points that were going to expire, so our weekend getaway ended up costing almost nothing! 

It was a wonderful weekend, and much needed; once we got there, we realized how much. Everything was perfect- the room, the ocean, the pool, the bike rides, the company... and, the cherry on top of the whole trip was the dolphin, Andre, who swam up to dock we were on to say hello, who allowed us to touch him.

And, the whole weekend we were there, I just felt loved. By my husband, certainly, but also by God. It was one of those moments where you just feel completely seen and understood and cherished. It was a reprieve from the trials, struggles, cares, and uncertainties that have been weighing us down, and we were able to reconnect and remember how much we enjoy each others' company. Truly a gift! I also got to spend the weekend with my brother- my best friend growing up- and my sister-in-law, who I now love so much more after getting to know her better and the gem she is! 

None of this was planned, or even seen as a possibility, and yet it happened to be better than we ever could have hoped! As I reflect on it now, it is a beautiful reminder of the blessing it is to know Who orchestrates all things. Even in the midst of uncertainty and fear, at the end of the day we can cling to the knowledge that we have a good God who cares for His children. 

I don't know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future, and I know that this broken world is not all we have to live for. I know that He has promised to make all things new, and our perfect weekend doesn't even compare to what we have to look forward to. 

This weekend was a gift- an answer to an unspoken prayer. And, I am so thankful.

To be a Princess

 "Mom, I don't want to live with God when I die." I could hear the uncertainty in my four-year-old's voice as she spoke. Her older brother has been asking a lot of questions lately about God, heaven, and theology in general, so she has overheard a lot and understood little. Who is this strange God that we're supposed to go live with someday- someone we've never seen...?

"It's ok to feel that way," I told her gently, "But, the Bible says that God wants to make you a princess! God wants you to come live with Him (Ephesians 1:3-14), and help Him rule over the world after He fixes all the bad things (2 Timothy 2:1-13, Revelation 21:1-8). Isn't that exciting?!" I watched as her face slowly changed- her furrowed brow dissolved, and her countenance lit up with excitement and anticipation. 

"I get to be a princess?!" She asked with excitement. 

"Yes, you do! If you believe that Jesus saved you from your sins and the punishment you deserve; and, if you make Him king of your life and try your best to obey His rules, you will get to be a princess one day."

"I can't wait to tell everybody that I'm going to be a princess!!!" 

The sincerity and the excitement were beautiful to witness. All fear and uncertainty were gone, and her enthusiasm was so overwhelming that she wanted to share it with everyone else, too. Maybe that trust and enthusiasm are the reason why Jesus speaks so often of coming with the faith of a child; their excitement is contagious, and so completely perfect. There isn't apprehension or doubt, or stopping to calculate the risks; just the open acceptance of a beautiful truth. 

A lot of times, it seems like we adults are the short-sighted ones. We see the rules and the sacrifices we have to make that are in contradiction with our sin nature. We often fail to see beyond the temporary hardships to the future glory that awaits us. My daughter will learn that living for Christ isn't always easy, but if she strives to do so she will not be disappointed. For now, in her simplistic, naive little understanding of the world, all she wants is to be a princess. 

Maybe all of us long for that in one form or another. Maybe, if more people knew about the inheritance that awaits those who trust in Jesus' sacrifice of love for us, the present worldly darkness wouldn't seem so bad... Do you want to be a prince/princess?

A Note for the Struggling Parent

The more I reflect on what it means to be a parent, the more amazed I am at the privilege, and humbled by the calling. It's not just about two people falling in love and procreating, it's about a sacred responsibility, and an opportunity have a lasting effect on the world for generations to come. How will the world be different because of the influence I have had on my children? Who will they become?

Children are amazing. They have such a capacity to learn and to love. Young children have minds designed to absorb everything they are exposed to- but, not only that- minds that process the information they're given so that it becomes the bedrock of their understanding of how the world works. As they grow up, they try to reconcile the new information with what they already know of the world. Children are not just more expensive "pets" that require more supervision, they are smaller people looking for their place and their purpose in the world.

When I look at my own children, I see mini people who want to be a part of,,, everything. They want to know how things work and why things are the way they are, and they want to help with the things I'm doing- they ALWAYS want to help. Sometimes, it's because they're curious, sometimes it's because they want to spend time with me; but, there's almost always someone helping me do chores, make dinner, etc. That's my secret to getting things done- my kids help me when they want to or they quit and find their own source of entertainment. But, I've found that if I let them participate for a little while they'll become bored and do their own thing, instead of fussing and interfering with my work all day long.

That's not to say that they don't fuss or interfere. Every day I'm reminded that they're little sinners just like me. But, they're also just trying to find their way like the rest of us; and, though it's hard, it's a wonderful, humbling task to be the one who gets to help guide them through the first crucial years of their life. 

I want to encourage the parents who are struggling right now, especially those who have recently decided to homeschool and feel like they're drowning. What you are doing DOES matter. The sacrifices you're making DO make a difference. We don't always get to know what impact our contributions make in the grand scheme of things, but sometimes we can catch a glimpse of the beautiful people our children are growing into. They are the next generation that will someday make the decisions and pull the weight of the labor force for our nation. The values that are taught to them- directly or indirectly- will stay with them for the rest of their lives and will influence the place they take in the world. 

Do your best. Expect to fail. And, when you do, show your children what it means to get up and try again. That may be the most important lesson of all. 

Photo Credit: Peony Photos @Jenna_Sullivan25