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.
