Not just another homecoming!

  My excitement builds as we get closer and closer to April (that’s when I will lay my eyes on  and wrap my arms around my son, daughter in law, and my 3 year & 1 year old grandsons). Plans are in the making and for some of them we are running out of time. I suppose I will probably have to accept that some things just won’t get done. I have a hard time with that but what will be will be. I purpose to  keep my focus on the important stuff!

   A lot of things are racing around in my mind. For you see, my grandsons have never seen most of the people in their family (this is not the land of their birth as it is for their parents), my son and daughter in law have been living in a new land (with new people, new climate, new culture, new friends–most of whom we have never met). I’ve been warned that they will experience what is referred to as reverse culture shock. Sounds ominous doesn’t it!

   I’ve got a feeling we can’t expect just because they are coming home that this will  be just another homecoming, that everyone will just pick up where we left off 4 years ago! For during those 4 years we have moved forward without them and they have moved forward without us. Now our lives will be blended once more (but only temporarily; that’s an adjustment all by itself, sigh). We will all have to make the necessary adjustments, while always being sensitive to what each other’s needs are. But not sure at this point what that is suppose to look like!

   So in order to gain some insight into all of this, I am reading blogs about what this re-entry process (for them and for us) involves and am trying to prepare myself for the little surprises along the way.  We will learn from this (probably by making a few mistakes–I hope it’s only a few) and next time we travel this path we will possess a more realistic perspective about what to expect. So in the meantime,

there’s a verse that has always served me well for occasions such as this:

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.1 Peter 4:8 NIV

We certainly have that in abundance and,  in addition, we have a sufficiency of grace, 

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

   Therefore we will depend upon Love and Grace to smooth the way before us as we anticipate  this ‘not just another homecoming!’

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A Great Way to Prepare for the Future; Enjoy the Present!

Yesterday I was talking to a young mom of 4 about how my life had been impacted by my son & daughter-in-law’s (and now my pre born grandchild!) moving to a land far away to become missionaries.  This blog has recorded that journey as honestly as I could with the hope that it would offer those of you comfort who find themselves in a similar situation.  She brought up a subject during our conversation that I would like to address here.

Some of you who read my blog are young mothers yourselves and the thought that God might call those precious souls you are bound to oh so tightly, to separate themselves from you at some point in the future and go serve God far far away fills your heart with dread and fear.  It’s just more than you can bear!

And you know what, you are exactly right!  You can’t!

Right now you don’t need to be thinking of such things.  You are to make the most of each moment.  Pack as many blessed memories away as you can.  Should the day come when you have to endure such a separation, then having a store of blessed memories will sustain you.

When they are this size, Just enjoy them!

Don’t waste ANY time worrying about whether or not God is going to call your children to a land far away.  Your focus should be to enjoy those blessed treasures of your children every moment you have them.  Concentrate on raising them to desire God’s will above all else in the present and by the time the future arrives you will have prepared you and them to do whatever God calls them to.

(b/c remember the safest place on earth is in the center of God’s will).

Pray for them to be passionate about their devotion to God and to be singleminded in their service to Him.  (And of course this is going to be much easier for them if they have your example to follow!)

Gather scriptures along the way that will guide and sustain you as you raise your precious babes.  And know that as hard as you’ll try, you are going to mess up.  But take heart, there’s a sustaining and powerful verse I’ve called upon all my parenting years:

I Peter 4:8:  Above all, maintain an intense love for each other, since love covers a multitude of sins.

You just love those sweet children as much as you can.  Always allowing it’s force to motivate you to do what’s best for your children, putting their needs above your own.  It will cover the unintentional mistakes you may make along the way.  And listen some of those mistakes may be pretty serious, but know that God’s love covers your children. God sees into your heart and His love will also rescue you.  It will all work together for your good and theirs.  You have His assurance on that. (Please note that I’m referring to unintentional mistakes here.  Those mistakes you make when you aught to know better belong in a different category, my dear parent.  Those mistakes have the potential to jeopardize your child’s future calling from God. If you are on the wrong track right now; think of your child’s future and get back where you belong!)

Psalm 39:23 A man’s steps are established by the LORD,
and He takes pleasure in his way. 24 Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, because the LORD holds his hand.

Romans 8:28:  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,

So, go enjoy your wonderful gifts from God.  Don’t entertain fearful thoughts regarding the future of your children.  Love and enjoy them every day you have them, make beautiful memories and store them away.  Enjoy the present; that’s a great way to prepare for the future!