"Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord.
Lift your hands toward Him for the life of your young children." Lamentations 2:19
The last few days, as I have felt myself once again, I have been spent getting the household straightened up in the deep recesses, re-organized, and begun planning the new school year.
It is such a joy to be able keep house again.
Then yesterday, my husband and I made a trip to town to get groceries.
One of the things I love to do when in town, is stop at the thrift store and hunt.
First, though, we went to The Homeschool Book Shop and scored on the few things I need for this season. With my books in hand I approached the counter...the sales clerk said,
"You have credit here, do you want to use it?"
I felt like I had won the lottery.
I had enough credit to pay for all the things I had in hand!! It was so exciting.
I just love stories of God providing for the people who love him and trust him
with even the little things.
I was swapping stories with a friend who was praying about furniture on Craigslist.
Have you ever prayed about a nightstand?
Life with God is amazing.
Who knows what abundant blessings He has in store for you when you put Him first, like my friend, who met a special person after praying about a nightstand...
or like finding you have a balance of credit to pay for your purchases.
I always pray about our needs on the trip to town.
I have a written list of what is needed, and sometimes, a few items
that I am hoping to find that would just be nice to have.
Time and time again, I find the things on my list at phenomenal deals via a thrift store.
The reality is that God loves his children, and He loves to gives His children Gifts,
I think to reveal that He delights in them and that He cares about the smallest details of our lives.
Going to town is an all day trek, so we most often leave all the children home.
By dinner time, I am missing them, wondering how their day has gone.
We were sitting in Taco Bell when a family came in with a two year old boy
with the cutest little glasses.
He had that adorable 2 year old chub; dimples in his elbows and on his hands - round cheeks,
but he looked so grown up with his little glasses.
I enjoyed watching him with his family.
When we were ready to leave, I just had to let his parents know
what a precious little man they had there, and how much I enjoyed watching him during dinner.
I was missing my own 2 year old boy.
At the same time, I was praying for my oldest son,
who was called out to fight a wildland fire in our area.
I pray fervently for all our boys, young and old.
Stormie Omartan has a book of prayers for boys that is beautifully full of promises and prayers. Here is one that remains in my heart:
"Lord, thank you for my boy. He is such a wonderful gift to me. Help me to raise him well. May the beauty of your spirit be so evident in me that I will be a godly role model for him. Give me the communication, teaching, and nurturing skills that I must have. Grow me into being the kind of parent You want me to be and teach me how to pray and truly intercede for his life. I'm grateful that I don't have to rely on the world's unreliable and ever changing methods of child rearing, but hat I can have clear directions from your word and wisdom as I pray to you for guidance. I rely on you for everything, and this day I trust my child to you and release him into your hands. In Jesus name I ask that you will increase my faith for all things you have put on my heart to pray concerning my son."
Something I learned during my illness is
how important it is to communicate that you are praying for someone.
I have a friend who, I think, does not have a clue how much I care for her and her children,
how many sleepness nights I have interceded for her wayward boys,
how many times I lifted them up to the Lord begging Him to tug their heartstrings.
Why? Because I have not been active in communicating to her that I am praying,
I have not written or told her boys how I am praying.
I found, when I was sick how very much those words mean,
how encouraging it is to know that someone cares and is praying.
It is a very small thing indeed to drop someone a line these days,
facebook and email make it the simplest of tasks, yet taking few minutes to do so may be a huge encouragement to the person you are praying for.
What about my own children? Do they know that I pray for them each daily?
Do they know how I pray for them?
Sometimes, I find, that it is hardest to tell those that are closest to you how much you care.
My heart is so full of concern for my family and friends, church people.
But, Unless I actively, deliberately communicate it,
they will never know.
Just like those folks in Taco Bell, I hope it was an encouragement to them to tell them my thoughts. What parent does not like to hear that someone else sees value in their child?
It only took 1 minute.
I am resolved to share how I care with others. What do I have to lose?
After all, I appreciate the little things God Himself does to show His care in my life.
I am learning to love more deeply.
It may be slow going, and it is probably something that I should have struck on long ago.
I am humbled at the thought.
May the Lord have mercy and grant me time....
to amend the old ways as I seek to become more like Him.
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