I was reminded this morning of something...my family comes first!
Sometimes as a "missionary" I feel like my focus has to be on the people I came here to love and serve. I have to be "with" them constantly or I am not doing my job. I have to be "helping" them in some way or I am not doing my job.
Yet, this morning I am so thankful that I don't allow those thoughts to keep me from keeping my focus on my family. I am a MOM and a WIFE first. My "mission" is to raise my children to love and trust our amazing God. My "mission" is to raise my children to follow the footsteps of Jesus. My "mission" is to love my husband.
God is first in my life! But after him it has to be my family. Yes, I live in Haiti as a "missionary". Yes, I need to "help", be "with" and "love and serve" the people of Haiti! God called us here to do exactly that. People make sacrifices daily so that we can do exactly that. People pray for us daily as we do exactly that. But God calls me as a wife and mother to disciple my children and to love my husband first.
This morning I saw the results of spending time focusing on my family...I can't stop smiling as I recall what happened! I came home early after a morning run and my entire family was up and ready for the day. Normally, I wake Cameron up at 6:30 and we take our dog to the school for his morning run and bathroom time. At about 7, Ethan shuffles out of his room. Today, however, everyone was up by 6am.
Scott made his amazing Cuban coffee for us and we all sat down at the table to enjoy it. During our coffee time, Scott turned on the worship videos that we have been watching. The boys have their favorites so we were picking and choosing what we wanted to see, hear AND sing to. Well, for the next hour it was a concert in our kitchen. The boys were up dancing and singing-the moonwalk was happening in my kitchen! It was a morning I will NEVER forget! I got to watch (and participate in) my children and my husband PRAISE our God! It was the best worship service I've ever been in-right in my kitchen!
I will continue to love, serve, help and be with these people I have come to know and love! I will continue to do what God called me here to do! But, I pray I never forget to put my family before all of that.
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
I've got you!
Ethan came home from school with very intense pain in his lower abdomen. Because of his pain we immediately took him to the best doctor we know in this area. The trip there is only about 3 miles but took about 15 minutes. The roads in Haiti are hard to explain. Let me just say, my fitbit thought I had taken 3,000 steps during those 15 minutes.
The whole way there, as I held my 9 year old, I prayed! That was the only thing I could do. I held him trying to soften each bump and praying that the pain would go away!
We arrived at the hospital and our friend Kerlande was there to help us. She told us what to do, where to go, and stayed with us the whole day. She was a gift from God! Kerlande, I can't thank you enough for walking through this with us!
We were able to see the doctor right away and had some tests done. We left there without any answers but I am so thankful that the pain is completely gone at this moment.
As a mom, I hurt for my son in a way that words couldn't express. Not knowing if he would get the right care, not knowing what was going on inside that little body, not knowing how to fix it...the only thing that got me through this day was knowing that God was in control. I knew I could trust Him with Ethan's life. That doesn't mean it was easy. I had to give Ethan to him moment by moment. I kept trying to take care of it myself and then He would gently remind me that "I'VE GOT HIM!" I knew that deep down but that surface stuff just gets in the way sometimes!
Isaiah 40:31 says "those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. The will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not grow faint."
What an amazing promise....God is saying, "I'VE GOT YOU!" If only we could trust in that from our core to our surface!
The whole way there, as I held my 9 year old, I prayed! That was the only thing I could do. I held him trying to soften each bump and praying that the pain would go away!
We arrived at the hospital and our friend Kerlande was there to help us. She told us what to do, where to go, and stayed with us the whole day. She was a gift from God! Kerlande, I can't thank you enough for walking through this with us!
We were able to see the doctor right away and had some tests done. We left there without any answers but I am so thankful that the pain is completely gone at this moment.
As a mom, I hurt for my son in a way that words couldn't express. Not knowing if he would get the right care, not knowing what was going on inside that little body, not knowing how to fix it...the only thing that got me through this day was knowing that God was in control. I knew I could trust Him with Ethan's life. That doesn't mean it was easy. I had to give Ethan to him moment by moment. I kept trying to take care of it myself and then He would gently remind me that "I'VE GOT HIM!" I knew that deep down but that surface stuff just gets in the way sometimes!
Isaiah 40:31 says "those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. The will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not grow faint."
What an amazing promise....God is saying, "I'VE GOT YOU!" If only we could trust in that from our core to our surface!
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