Happy Weekend!
As many of you know, my eleven-year-old daughter wants to be a missionary.
To China.
She has talked about this since she was three.
Now, when she was three, I thought, “Isn’t that precious?” But now, I’m getting a little nervous. Yes, I want my daughter to follow God’s calling on her life. But China? China?!? I’d much rather have her living out God’s will for her life in the house next door to me. That is, if she finds it absolutely necessary to move away from home.
But I am so proud of my little missionary daughter. She humbles me, as I watch her faith. Simple. Pure. Innocent. Yet oh, so profound.
She recently told me that this is her favorite song. I had heard the song before, but when I listened to it from her point of view, I have to be honest. I cried like a baby. I was holding her in my lap as we watched the you-tube, and she said, “Mom, you’re getting me all wet.”
So, I hope you enjoy this song, written and sung by Britt Nicole.
And I hope it inspires you to make your world a little bigger.
–r
How wonderful to have a daughter like yours! I have heard the song before, too, but it came to life for me thinking of you and Charis while listening. I love her heart for God and for others. It says a lot about her that this is her favorite song. My brother always says you are safer going where the Lord calls you and doing what He asks you to do than anywhere else in the world (even safe at home), and I know he is right. Still, moms will be moms, no matter how old their children get or how near or far away they are, so there you go … nerves have their place! But so does joy and pride in the person she is. Bless you both!
Oh, Jeanette, to look at her is looking at my heart – walking around outside of my body! It will be difficult to have her far away from me, but I know that is the order of things. It would be unhealthy for her NOT to want to grow and become independent.
That”s why, as we discussed earlier, I just focus on today. Tomorrow will take care of itself.
I love how you express that — to look at her is looking at your heart. I understand now the background to what you said earlier about your head-in-the-sand technique! If someday she does become the missionary she has been talking about all these years, I know you will have so many different feelings.
This is definitely one of those things that becomes right with time. Right now when Charis is 11, there is no way your mind and emotions can make the leap to her being an independent adult, much less a missionary far away. As she slowly gets more mature and more independent and starts doing more things on her own, you will make the emotional adjustments right along with her, so if that day comes, you will be ready, too.
Meanwhile, be wise and observant, pray a lot, and stick your head in the sand any time you want! (I do it, too!) If this is indeed God’s plan for her, I know He called you to be her mom, and that He knew what He was doing.
Thanks so much for your encouragement, Jeanette. You’re right. We have no idea what the future holds. And, as God prepares her for whatever . . . He will prepare me, too.
I’m thinking of buying stock in the Kleenex company, though! 😉