Thursday, April 05, 2007

It has been way too long since we have been able to see our girls. This separation is not easy for any of us. We each know we are where we are supposed to be, but the longing to come back together is strong. We have always been very close as a family. None of us are familiar with being apart for months at a stretch.

Lauren will graduate at the end of this month. April 28th and 29th are when the festivities are set for. We anxiously await this time together. She will finish with a double major...Adolescent Ministries and Biblical Literature. Her hope is to go on to graduate school in the fall to study Christian Counseling (for youth).

While we are in Indiana, we will be collecting her belongings, packing them up, and moving her to Oklahoma. This may be temporary, but will give her time to figure out her next step before she and David (who led both of BJ's Peru teams) lead a team of 20 to India this summer. It is an exciting time in Lauren's life, but full of distractions.

Saying good-bye to many friends will take her quite a while. Mixing that with the family present to congratulate her will leave her little time for anything else.

This means Whitney will be left in Indiana by herself (in terms of immediate family). This is easy for none of us, least of all Whitney. She finishes school for the summer, the week after Lauren graduates, and is working to plan a couple of visits our way during the break.

She will not accompany us to the field this summer. Though she knows this is right, it remains a struggle, as she knows her family will be in Asia and South America.

Sometimes the changes God brings in our lives are completely unanticipated, and not ones we would desire. Any one of us could choose to step out of His will to assure more time together, but we have certainly learned of our need to follow Him in instant obedience. We also know that many families across the US and world are dealing with similar issues.

Our collective desire is to bring glory to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We will have times of suffering in that journey. Sometimes it means extended time apart. Sometimes it means heartbreak. Sometimes it means we get to see Him do amazing things in and around us.

More than each other, we treasure our time with Him. He is what makes it possible for us to put one foot in front of the other, even when it takes us farther apart from each other.

I am very thankful for two beautiful daughters who serve and love Jesus. I am very thankful for a precious son who currently has a view we all covet. I am most thankful for a loving God who ministers to each one of us, day by day, hour by hour, and minute by minute. How blessed we are to have the opportunity to minister to others because of His love for us!

Lord, haste the day when faith shall be sight!!!

dad

3 Comments:

At 9:24 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wonderful...Glory be to God

Greenfield, Indiana

 
At 2:14 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sometimes I am in awe of how life works out after months of seperation from loved ones. Looking back I always see the whys of my questions to God. Amazing and humbling.

 
At 3:10 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

What a beautiful picture you painted for us all to view.
As you know I am well aquainted with seperation from my children. I can't say that it gets any easier as time goes by, but there is a definate peace that settles deep within ones heart, and that peace can only come from the One who loves us so much, Jesus.

Many times when there is distance between our loved ones, it is at these times that we have a clearer view of the work that the Lord is doing, and because of that distance, we can't interfer, which is probably a good thing.
I have seen so many changes in Hollie, over the past year and a half and I know that if I were in the middle of it, I surely would have gotten in the way. So in many ways I am thankful that there is distance between us, as this allows the Lord to do what He desires in our loved ones and in us.
I've rambled, I do hope and pray you enjoy your time with your family at the end of the month, and that it is a time of growth and renewed love and appreciation for one another.

In His Love
Linda

 

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