I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
-3 John 1:4 (NIV)
I know my blog has been quiet lately. I’ve had a lot on my mind & no words to explain what is happening inside me.
Our son Joshua is leaving on a six month youth ministry internship to Florida. He has been studying to be a youth pastor & now it is time for him to put his studies into practice…
I can hardly believe it.
It seems like it was just yesterday that he was just a “little” boy. That amazing little guy with the bright eyes & charming smile who smelt of dirt & fresh air, climbed trees, played hockey in the driveway & wore his roller blades in the house.
Not much has changed about his personality. He is still curious & precocious, full of joy & laughter, tender & encouraging.
I wonder if he knows how much we will miss him while he is gone… what an amazing big brother he is to Caleb & Hannah, what joy & laughter he brings to his Dad & me.
I wish I could prepare him for what he will face in ministry. The pain of pouring his life into people who may never “get it” or worse, may choose to betray him; experiencing the harsh criticism of those that may not understand God’s vision for his ministry, the loneliness of his position & yet… to be able to experience the joy of watching someone choose to follow Jesus, the excitement of seeing lives changed by the power of the Holy Spirit, the incredible peace that comes with knowing God is working & the honor it is to be a part of it.
I pray that as he embarks on this new chapter of his life, that God would bring pastors around him to mentor, love & encourage him & his giftedness. That he would be intentional & committed to his work, find wisdom & discernment in his relationships & experience joy & peace in his choice to follow Jesus plan for his life.
As his mom, I’m finding that being strong sometimes means being able to let go.... being able to allow my child the space he needs to grow & experience life, to have the strength to say that I cannot change the inevitable, & that the only way forward is a road best traveled on his own.
The time has come for him to follow the path God has set before him, for him to find the strength to live his life with passion & purpose & begin to leave his own legacy.
So today... I close my eyes... hold my breath… & say goodbye to my son...
Get ready world! You're bout to get ROCKED!
