Fortunately, you do not have to hear it, but when my children were babies, I used to sing to them. Rocking them to sleep (except Whit, who would NOT be rocked) while singing a lullaby, is a very fond memory for me, even though it is a bit oxymoronic in nature for them. (Maybe it wasn't the rocking Whit did not like).

There was a short list of songs that I ran through, but my favorite was "Edelweiss." Yes it is from the "Sound of Music," and yes that is a musical, but I like that song. I don't think that Christopher Plummer would have been very proud, however, as I could never seem to remember the words correctly. Of course I never let that stop me. I added and subtracted as necessary, and made rhymes at the right places. It worked. My audience was captive, and did not know of the butchery that was occurring. Perhaps that is what spurred them each to become such musical individuals... or maybe it was a backlash affect. No, music is a giftedness passed to them through their mother.

My first mission trip was to Croatia. I went there in 1998. That trip changed my life, as these trips often do. For the first time I saw how spoiled I was, even though I did not grow up wealthy. My riches were in things I found I took for granted. I had so much that was meaningless in my life until that trip. The Lord raised up in me a powerful desire to see students learn to share their faith, and lead others to Him. Seeing that AHA! moment in their lives is such an incredible thing. Seeing it become part of who they are is a joy.

We had a layover in Switzerland on our return trip. We had a day of sightseeing. I was in the mountains above Grindewald, and the intense beauty I beheld was unequaled. My God, my Creator had done an amazing work in this place. For some outlandish reason, my younger sister Lynae had challenged me to do the whole Maria (from the Sound of Music) spin if I got up into the mountains. I obliged. I spun, and sang "the hills are alive." My teammates even captured this moment on film so that I could prove I had done it (I think the hills were hoping to brandish severe punishment for this vile offense).

There have been few moments equivalent to this one. Hearing the sound of the cow bells clapping as these much heralded animals (in Switzerland) grazed the mountainside was only upstaged when I discovered Edelweiss growing all around me. I am sure I hummed a bit of it as well. Having sung this song for years I wondered what the flower actually looked like. I was rewarded by an array of further beauty as they sprawled across the mountainside. They are a very common, ordinary little flower. Not really all that special to look at. But what impact they have had in my life, in my memories.

You are God's creation as well. Common? Ordinary? Maybe you don't think you are very special to look at. Guess what? God our Creator made you, and He will do extraordinary things through you, if you avail yourself to His will and desire for your life. Don't hold back! Let Him have all of you!!! What an impact He will have in your life, in your memories.

Serving the King beside you,

dad


Yeah Bonnie!!! I am so excited to see how the Lord uses you!