Rejoicing in the day-to-day

Boy!

This was a long time ago.

I ran across this while searching for something else.

So many memories return with a look at our girls grown big before they were large.

How does it happen so fast?

You simply try to deal with life day in and day out while the miracle of childhood turns into the blessings of adulthood.

And suddenly:

Those tiny fingers and messy heads and snuggly cuddly bodies have stretched out.

You look and see not a child.

And it’s a common phenomenon.

On Saturday we traveled to a wedding ceremony for a man who we used to know as a little boy.

He too stretched out and changed in the day-to-day growth of children.

But I haven’t forgotten the little boy that he once was.

My voice was absent as I hugged him, all polished and ready for this major life change.

But he looked down on this tiny lady who loves him and said, “I love you”.

I signed, “I love you” hugged him again and let him return to his duties.

What a joy!

To daily walk in this miracle of children growing into men and women.

Only God could come up with such a wonderful blessing as babies to child to adult.

What an incredible honor to have years of daily opportunities to instill character into the future generation.

Of course we can only do that through Jesus.

He’s the One who guides, leads, and directs us, we simply have the privilege of holding, comforting, caring, and training those littles He for so brief a time.

And He adds the blessings of loving other littles too.

Children of our friends or church family.

Neighborhood children or those I was blessed to work with.

So many opportunities to share Jesus with those who have yet to leave childhood behind.

As I cherish memories of my children’s childhood, I praise God for the day-to-day.

Praising Him for today and all those which have come before.

Psalm 35:28 KJV — And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You so much for today! Thank You for all the days we have shared with our children and with others. Thank You for pouring into our lives. Please continue to guide, direct, and teach us as we purpose to do the same with our remaining two who still live with us. Lord, please shine Your truth into other parents, that they might use these precious years of childhood to raise amazing adults. Thank You for Your love of children. Thank You for Your love of each one of us. Thank You for all You are doing day-to-day in our lives. We love You, Jesus. Amen.

One less

Here they are,

the children still living in our home.

For with our move,

we are

one

less.

-sigh-

It’s a blessing.

It’s time.

But, it’s difficult to let go.

Our Bell is starting college

and

we are thankful.

But my Mommy heart is torn.

To know the room reserved for her will only be filled once in a while.

To realize life has changed the size of my family.

To rest her in God’s hands.

All these things require surrender.

And I’ve learned,

surrender

to Jesus

is best.

It’s far better than

holding tightly,

trying to control,

struggling on my own.

That actually never works.

-smile-

This new chapter

is an

opportunity.

Our number of residents

might be

one less,

but she’ll always be

a member of our family.

And she belongs to Jesus,

first and last.

I am no less her Mom than I was before.

She is no less a sibling

or daughter.

And it’s a blessing for her to walk

forward

into a new place

with new opportunities.

Infact,

it’s wonderful.

God knows how much

we love

our Bell.

And He loves her

a million times

more.

What is better than that?

I am
comforted.

May God be glorified through her.

May He be glorified through me.

May God be glorified through our family.

“Yours, O Lord , is the greatness,
The power and the glory,
The victory and the majesty;
For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours;
Yours is the kingdom, O Lord ,
And You are exalted as head
over all.”
I Chronicles 29:11 NKJV