I Think I’m Like Most Mothers

I think I’m like most mothers in that when they think about what the future holds for their child, they say to themselves something like the following -

“I hope they are happy and successful.”
“I hope they follow their dreams.”
“I hope they are more well-off than we are.”

The one thing that I thought I would never say -

“I hope that they realize God’s plan for their lives.”

I know that the above statement is still hard for me, even where I think I am in my walk with Christ for I know that what God has planned is not always what I have planned. And it’s not always what I want.

And I’m not even sure that I’m doing what God has planned for me so how can I know what he has planned for my children?

It’s hurting my head this Monday.

Ever since the boy was as small as a peanut, he has been fascinated with airplanes. Now I know most little boys are fascinated by all moving things, cars, trains and airplanes but my boy – he was slightly obsessed. He knew the difference between a Cessna and a Skyhawk, and could tell you what type of payload a C-130 carries when we was a wee five year old. He was always looking up to the sky, “Hey dad, is that a 737?”

His father is a pilot and flew both small, fast, military jets as well as big, fast, civilian airliners so they talked about it constantly. We’ve been to the Air and Space Museum in Washington DC about twenty times. As long as I can remember, people would ask, “Does the boy want to fly?”

I’d say flippantly, “One pilot in the family is enough.” And it really is -

The boy left yesterday for Boise, Idaho. He is attending a camp for young kids who are passionate about flying – and also have a Christ heart. A Christ centered organization called Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) runs it. The husband found this camp on the internets (George Bush) and gave me the number to the address (Joe Biden.) I’m sorry but politicians crack me up.

The husband spent many hours looking at this organization and he finally called them. Then he couldn’t let it go. He wanted to send the boy. We asked the boy if he was interested and well, the answer “Yes” couldn’t have been spoken fast enough.

I was like – “Whoa lets settle down now boys and talk about this a little.” For you see, I had my sights on a flight camp at a prestigious university that focuses on aviation technology. If the boy wanted to fly, then he should go to a place that focused on flying - not scripture. I signed him up last winter and he was very excited to do it. What’s this about God in the mix?

I watched the boy over the years develop and grow spiritually. I said to my pastor a few months back, “I’m afraid the boy is going to want to preach the gospel.”

He gave me an incredulous look and he said, “Why are you afraid?”

I said, “I don’t want him to go to a dangerous place and be hurt for his beliefs.” Not everyone appreciates a preacher you know? It’s my doubting self talking.

Pastor Bob answered back passionately, “Puna, people are persecuted every day. People are hurt every day. At least he’ll be doing something with his life that matters. At least he’ll be living for God.”

Last weekend the boy and I prepared for his trip. We packed his bags for two flight camps, one in Idaho that his dad wanted him to go to and the other in Arizona that I wanted him to go to. He of course was happy for the compromise. Two weeks of nothing but airplanes? Good deal. The camps are one right after another so he won’t be home for a while.

Before he left he went to the MAF site to watch a video about a MAF mechanic who helped to save a mother and baby. I knew it was what he wanted to do too, help save the world for God. I stood in one corner of the kitchen and was overwhelmed with emotion and I cried big sobbing silly tears. It’s not sad, it’s just not what I thought would ever happen.

So yesterday, the husband escorted him to Idaho and sent me updates while I watched our girl ride in her show. I have one child who is flying and another one who is riding horses. I think I need to medicate.

I (sternly) asked the boy to text me if he could. We weren’t sure of his schedule or of the cell coverage at 4700 ft in nowhere Idaho. I also don’t think he’s suppose to have his cell but I insisted he keep it and I’ll take the heat.

He sent me this last night.

with a text that said, “Just flew in the backseat arrived safely in cascade ”

I was so relieved.

Then he sent this -with a text that said, “My bedroom view”

I think he’s going to love it. Truly.

I’m sorry God for all the questioning that I do. I’ll try not to make it a habit.

Posted on Spiritual Sundays.

Devos

The boy is on a mission trip to Honduras and I miss him very much. He is doing something really important though and I know that he will learn, grow and change.

He is a typical boy in so many ways, but I can say his spiritual growth is amazing, especially in the last year. I wish I had such maturity when I was fifteen years old, I may have been spared the mistakes born of ignorance and lack of moral guidance. I don’t want to live in the past though, we just want to do the best we can to give him direction and then God will do the rest.

I really believe that.

We’re not naive enough to think he won’t make any mistakes of his own – he will. After all, there’s that free will that we are all born with. Unlike myself though, we hope he will make more measured decisions … it is our hope and wish.

Of course, every fifteen year old thinks they know it all, I tend to think it’s a necessary part of growing up. If not, young ‘uns really wouldn’t have the confidence or the courage to try many of life’s experiences for the first time.

I think there will probably be a time when he’ll fall away from us and from God – flex his legs and run away to find his independence. I expect it. And I have the perfect illustration of it that I will tell you about this week.

But I also know that God is working in him, he’s already showed it in so many ways. And it makes me so happy.

The husband and I went on an early morning boat ride one day while on vacation. When we came back to the house, we were greeted by this sight…

The boy and one of his friends doing their “devos.”

These are daily Bible devotionals that were given to them by their small group leader. I couldn’t believe it…it was a wonderful, albeit surprising sight. I had to squint and rub my eyes before I could really comprehend what I was looking at.

We got out of the boat and walked by and gave them a short and non-chalant greeting in order to not make them feel uncomfortable.

They went back to bed…but it fills my heart so…

Can’t wait until he gets home…

May 9, For Mom

When I was a 17 years old, I borrowed my step-father’s car, a car that I normally don’t drive but because I had just crashed the family car and that car was getting pieced back together in at the shop. My parents must have thought, why not? Could there really be two car incidences in a week?

At that time we lived on a very steep hill and turning into our driveway was tricky, and especially so for a novice driver. In attempting to make the bad turn into the driveway, I ran into a sign that was across the street from my house. I guess I felt like I needed to swing wider for some reason.

The sign snapped and the car got stuck over the protruding lower part…I started to panic and I drove back and forth, back and forth, in order to try to extricate the car from the sign therefore grinding whatever was underneath the car into a pulp.

The noise woke up my parents who came outside to see what all the ruckus was about. This was a sleepy town, a safe neighborhood. Could there be a gang fight right outside the house?

My mother asked me the obvious question. “Why didn’t you come and get us?”

That very question has stuck with me all these years. There’s many answers for that but right now, almost 30 years later, I just want to say I’m sorry for not trusting you enough to ask for your help mom.

Happy Mother’s Day.

” What a lioness was your mother among the lions! She lay down among the young lions and reared her cubs.” Ezekial 19: 1-3

Next year I’ll tell you about the time I ran the car into a chain fence before my parents’ Florida vacation.

Posted on Spiritual Sunday and SOOC Saturday.

October 25, Proverbs 3:34

This fall has been one of the prettiest in Maryland since we’ve moved here. Perhaps it is THE prettiest. In any case, I cannot stop taking photos of leaf covered lanes…it’s addicting.

For some reason, my mind has turned to grace this month or so. Perhaps God knows I’ll be needing a lot of it. And I have lately.

“He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.” Proberbs 3:34.

I really try not to be proud because the fall is pretty hard.

My homework assignment from Mrs. E is to write what I am most grateful for. I know this is late, I may have missed the cut-off to hand in the assignment. It’s a pattern left over from my school days that’s hard to break. Of course I’ve had extenuating circumstances…hope the teacher will excuse me.

Here goes…

…beautiful fall afternoons…health for my little girl…peace of mind in all things big and small…hope for peace of mind through life’s challenges…character and strength of my boy…good walking shoes…in season produce…a loving husband…a satisfying hobby…the grace of God…non-stick bakeware…baby goats…Christmas presents in October…the cross…fresh lemonade…seeing eye dogs…low gas prices…the support of a good computer team…pretty plates…jumping horses…sugar canes…pickled mangoes…roses that bloom in October…a great God, sovereign over all things…

I don’t know if that’s 150 words, I can’t find the word count in MS Word 2007. And so my computer woes continue.

I would encouage you to do your own homework assignment from Mrs. E, but it’s due tonight. If you’re anything like me, you’ll just be starting it now.

Posted on Spiritual Sundays.