I asked my mom to write a blog for me… I left it pretty open ended with what she should write about, but she sure does have a way with words! Enjoy reading the perspective of my mom and this crazy thing called the World Race! Love you mom!
Raising a child that is mission minded is bittersweet. As a believer, you want to raise your child as a responsible, Jesus loving individual, right? And they grow up, get a job, get married, have kids and live happily ever after, attending church with you and living in same town as you…..Not! At least not in my experience.
I can remember daydreaming of this perfect world back in high school. My kids would stay close and I would be able to watch all of them grow up in the Lord. Someone forgot to tell me the truth…..I thought! In actuality, I was too busy focusing on what kind of life I was gonna have, to realize the truth. Hindsight is 20/20.
The only thing that matters to me NOW, In raising my children, is that they love Jesus with their whole heart, with their whole soul and with their whole mind.
As I’ve watched each of my 7 children leave our home and venture into this big, cruel world; the biggest question that runs through my mind is, “Did we REALLY teach them to love Jesus?”
Each one has taken a different path to get there. Some have been bumpier than others. Some have been very different than we ever dreamed of. But the truth is, when you’re raising a tiny human to really love Jesus, you can’t forget that that means YOU are not first in their life! Jesus is! When they move thousands of miles away, YES, your heart hurts and YES, you celebrate because you see they are listening to the Lord!! There is no better experience than the one of watching your child follow the King of Kings!
Fast forward to the age of 21. They’ve gone away to college, got their degree, traveled a bit and now you’re looking forward to them moving back home and settling in!
Oh wait!! Then there’s the phone call:
“There’s this thing called The World Race!” “Why do you want run again?”
“It’s an 11 month mission trip to 11 countries! And I think I’m gonna apply!”
Silence…..
What can I say?! My protective mother’s heart is screaming inside with all of the “what if’s” and the horrible things he might encounter, I want to protect him!! But the Holy Spirit seems to guide my words,
“Sounds exciting! You would love it!”
So here we are….my baby is experiencing this amazing world that God created! And what can I say? Isn’t this how we raised him? To love Jesus above all else?! Somewhere along the way, no thanks to us, the baton got passed. He grabbed it, wholeheartedly and is running the good race! It feels like we blinked and missed it! It’s not a bad thing! In fact, there is no greater joy than watching your children listen to the Holy Spirit and follow Him!!!
My plans are definitely not God’s plans. How can he make his faith his own if I’m trying to guide every thought and experience? How can He learn to trust Jesus if he never fails on his own? How can he know for sure that it’s Jesus speaking to him?! All the “how’s”, “why’s” and “what if’s” really don’t matter as long as we know how to listen to Jesus.
This journey is not just for him. It’s my reminder that no matter how old I get, my lessons are no different than his. Am I listening to the Lord? Am I trusting myself more the I’m trusting Jesus? Am I reflecting Jesus in all that I do? Am I running the “good race” right where I am?!
Because I am human, I don’t always WANT to do the right thing. I usually WANT to do what’s best for me. The selfish thing! But why would I want to be selfish when it comes to having a relationship with Jesus? If Jesus is everything good, why would I want to withhold My children from experiencing Him?! I CAN’T!! No matter how much I want my children beside me (no matter their age), I want them to experience Jesus more!! I want them to truly KNOW JESUS!!
So, GO!! Go, my sweet Caleb!! Go and experience the amazing love of Jesus!! Go and see how good He is!! Go and share Him with all you come in contact with….with and without words!! Go and follow Him!!
All the while Though your presence is thousands of miles away, You are as close as a sweet thought and prayer.
Father,
I leave him in your hands….
Amen
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. -Psalms 34:8
