She drinks in dark red colored water and runs away. She denies the food we offer her. She’s hyped up on sunshine and the new found freedom she’s acquired of an enormous lawn. She knows her boundaries but tests us relentlessly. She scampers and squeals as she chases her new bright pink bouncy ball. She’s two years old yet seems to be in tune with approaching summertime. Perhaps it’s just my perspective of her. Or perhaps it’s retrospective memories I see when I look at her.
Growing up in Oklahoma, our family had our fill of outdoor gatherings and BBQ’s. Well, I say this loosely as we moved to Denver, Colorado the middle of my 6th Grade year. I was eleven at the time. I remember fireworks in July, fire flies and hot sultry nights when I wished my dad would have allowed the air conditioner to be colder. Regardless where we lived, Mom always made us Kool-Aid popsicles. So whether we were eating it or drinking it, we ended up with a “Kool-Aid Smile”; usually red, and all around the mouth. I liked how red it made my tongue. Some memories are so simple, yet so meaningful when recalled as an adult. For me, those little memories when I was 8, before the divorce, weren’t very happy. But when I dig deep, God allows me to pull out a few sweet ones to savor, and I thank Him. One Pastor of ours used to say, “God allows what He hates, to accomplish what He loves.” I took that phrase for my own because it helped me to see that God didn’t just carelessly make my life difficult as a child, but rather He knew what I didn’t. Jeremiah 29:11 says; For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. My life had a future that I couldn’t see at 8 or 11 or even now at, ahem, thirty something. So as I watch my children run and play and grow, I can sleep well at night knowing they belong to a God that cares for them and already knows their future.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
When I pray with my children, I often ask them to pray for their spouses-to-be. Some readily agree, others say, “Mom. I told you I’m never getting married you know!” Regardless we pray, “Lord, our eyes can’t see what yours can. We know you desire Godly offspring, so we pray for the future spouse of (fill in child’s name) and that they are being raised in a Godly home, that your hand is protecting them always. We pray for assurance and clarity when the time comes for them to meet and most of all, Your will be done. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” It is never too soon to pray for our future sons and daughters-in-law! When their day does come, and it will, they can confidently say to their spouse, I’ve been praying for you my whole life.
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