An audible prayer...

Our first day back to the daily grind of school. . . . .Let’s just say (ahem) that we hit a few bumps along the way of our day.  Surely my kids didn’t forget everything they learned last year?  That’s really how it felt.  But who is to blame them . . . we’ve only had about 4 months off!  4 months!  Yes- probably our longest on record!  Now, before you go and think we were just sitting around twiddling our thumbs, let me just say that we have had our fair share of some pretty amazing field trips this summer  - even if it was 4 months in length.  It’s not every year that you get to walk on the great wall of china or Tiananmen square.  What about getting to actually see where the duck Ping lived on the Yangtze river?!?   How fun is that for a kid!  And best of all, we got to love on some orphans in the magnificent country of China.

 

After returning from a 6 week whirlwind trip (which I have yet to finish blogging about) I thought we would be in for a comfortable few weeks at home before starting school mid-August.  Well, God had other plans for our family. You see, there were some kids who were in need of a home for a few weeks – and we just happened to be that place!  Was it in my plan? Nope!  But it was in His plan – and I am so glad that He is in control of my life and not me!  Don’t get me wrong, there were definite moments of frustration as I took care of 5 children – the days were long.  But looking back, I am reminded of His grace, His sovereignty, and His provision.  There were times that I was anxious because I had planned to start school mid-august and obviously that was not happening with a few extras around and no time to plan.  However, I felt a loving Savior remind me that my life is not my own and that He asks us to lay down ours because He laid down His for us. 

“And he said to all – if anyone would come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”  Luke 9:23

Who am I to question to the God of the universe about His plan for me and my family?  Isn’t He always good and gracious and loving?  Isn’t everything he does for our good and His glory?  So, after much prayer, my attitude began to change as I came to grips with the fact this was exactly where He had our family for the time.  What’s a few weeks, really?  Does it really matter that we didn’t start school until today – the day after labor day?  We were reminded that opportunities like the one presented to us – to love on some kids – is part of the reason we homeschool.  Because we homeschool, we CAN pause our lives for a few days or weeks to love on the least of these and be the hands and feet of Christ. 

And after all of that – you can understand why it might have been a little challenging to get back into our “normal” routine.  Whatever normal means – ha!  And so I found myself slightly discouraged by our first day glitches.  I had just put Emily down for her nap when she called me and said she needed to go to the bathroom.  I was already in the middle of reading Ann Voskamps daily blogpost and so I took her in there and told her to call me when she was finished.  And then I heard it – the sweetest little voice in all the world – praying!!  I stood out in the hall so I could hear her but didn’t want to interrupt that sweet baby.  And what good did that prayer do my soul!  It was almost all a prayer of thanksgiving... thankful for the trees, the birds, the sunshine, her mommy and daddy, her baby and addi (that’s what she calls Caleb and Adelynn), her new bed, her new teacher at preschool, her friend she met today, etc. 

As I listen to her pray, I read these words –

Grace is the only thing is that is ever enough.  Grace is the only thing that ever makes a way.  Grace is always enough when nothing else is.

You see, I was beating myself up about the way our day had started – maybe I had not planned enough, done enough review over the summer, trained our children enough, planned enough fun things to do, prayed enough, the list goes on and on. 

And then I was reminded by a child’s prayer and an encouraging blogpost all at the same time – that His Grace is Enough!  Ann Voskamp goes on to say (full blog here) –

Your sin cannot separate you (or your child) from Christ.

Your Father is bigger that your failures, your flesh, and your faults.

And your strengths can’t save you (or your child) in Christ. 

Christ wrote it with his blood on the Cross – His grace is enough!

Thank you Lord for the precious reminder of your grace through the mouth of a three year old darling girl.