insight from four year old ears

We have a family white board upstairs in between the kid's rooms where we post a memory verse and attitudes we're working on. The family focus for Spring reads, "See the positive, hope for the best, smile at Jesus, and no careless words."

Our memory verse for Spring is from Romans 8.28-29: "I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present, the past, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus." I write it out in segments with a picture by each line to help our preliterate daughter.

Dear Keona can't read yet but she has a great memory and a vivid imagination. She memorized this scripture quickly, with one noteworthy edit that I hear every morning during her devotions: "I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the president, nor the past, nor any powers...."

Yes, I plan on correcting it...soon-ish. But until then--as we round the bend in this election year-- I'll keep enjoying the truth in her four-year old words, I'll continue praying for the leadership in our nation, and I'll keep smiling at Jesus.

to china with love

My precious Keona announced that she was going to have 80 children yesterday.

One of them will be named (I'm going to try to type this out phonetically) Kaboolitatha. With Keona-characteristic certainty, she explained, "She will speak Spanish because she will be from China."

And there you have it.

China, however, is regularly spoken of by both Jonathan and Keona. They ask to go to China almost monthly. Their request always pulls at our hearts, because Barry and I spent the first 7 years of our marriage preparing to serve in China--a dream we, in tearful obedience, returned to Jesus' feet many years ago.

When Keona was only 2 she said over and over, "I'm going to take my message to my people." Two years later at the age of 4, she regularly pretends to pack a bag to go to China.

I wonder...perhaps some of our dearest dreams are watered by our tears for future generations to reap.

"the earth is hurting"

My eldest son has special needs that sing a delightful duet with special strengths. His perspective on life often causes me to pause.

Yesterday he wanted to drink the rainwater from our Noah-esque flood here in the Ozarks. He started to head onto the porch with a glass mug when I asked him what would happen if the glass mug fell. I expected something like, "it could break" or "it might hurt me."

Instead, Jonathan--his voice filled with concern--said, "Oh! I should get a plastic mug because if the glass mug fell, it would hurt the earth and the earth is already hurting so, so very much!"

The earth is hurting?

I paused and thought, God's earth respectfully absorbs the blood of martyrs. It silently witnesses the abuse of children. It graciously holds the tears of the broken.

Then I remembered the words of Romans 8.22-23: ^"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ^Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies."

The earth is hurting.

Jonathan already knew.

God whispers in weakness

I received an email from a dear soul today whose daughter was recently diagnosed with fragile x syndrome. It has obviously altered their intended path in life.

We too had our paths altered when our precious son was diagnosed on the autistic spectrum 8 years ago. It seems to me that special needs moms often have an undercurrent of ache that runs through their souls. Sometimes it's soft, other times is crashes in on them and takes their breath away.

I remember reading a biography of Mother Teresa where she talked about how God's voice was in the weak cry of the baby that led her to found her first orphanage. I thought to myself, "God whispers to us through weakness." Sometimes that weakness has been my own, sometimes that of my children. Always though it leads me into deeper dependence and, consequently, greater spiritual health.

on time machines

A few moments with my fabulous kids:

(from Jonathan, age 10)
"Mom! I had it in my brain to say, 'poop' but I didn't! I really just wanted to say, 'poop, poop, poop, poop' and I stopped myself. Aren't you glad?!"

(from Keona, age 4)
"Mom, why do people get tic-tac-toes?"
"Hmmn, where did you see tic-tac-toes?"
"You know mom, when people paint things on their arms or necks."

(from Jonathan)
"I wish I had a time machine."
"Where would you like to go, buddy?" I asked.
"I'd go back to when Papa Lou [my dad who passed away in 2001] was having a heart attack."
It took me a minute of deep breathing to wade through the tears welling up in my eyes, then I asked, "Why that specific time, my love?"
Jonathan answered, "So I could save him."

I'd love to go back too. Just to hear his laugh and drink in the love in his eyes whenever he looked at me. I really miss my dad. He never professed to know God, but he gave me an incredibly accurate picture of God's love.

Lake City, WI

"Day after day, choice after choice, every choice is a seed and every seed bears fruit..." The dear women of Lake City Church can recite this in their sleep now after our weekend on the theme of Choices: To Be Or Not To Be A Woman of God.

I have several great memories from this trip...meeting Jenna (a very bright young woman with a great mind), soaking in worship led by Emily (what a voice!), Sandee's "snacks" which were really gourmet finger foods (I'd weigh 500 pounds if I lived near this woman), great hostessing by Debbie, Nancy's gentle, steadying leadership, a surprise visit by a family friend (thanks for making the drive Leiton), Mary Ann's joyful face, Rhonda the photographer/accountant/whatever you need done girl...

Thank you all for receiving us so warmly!