She snuggled up next to me, asking hard questions about death, babies and adulthood. We talked a bit, while I tried to navigate the minefield of too-adult answers, and truth.
And then I asked, "When you get older, do you want to have lots of babies?"
She looked at me and said, "No, I want to be like you."
"You mean you want to love on your nieces and nephews?"
"Yup, and spend lots of time with them. And be a missionary."
She gets it.
A few weeks ago, the kids were bantering about how long I was staying in Costa Rica.
They were coming up with ideas of how long was too long, and how soon I should come home.
"Ten DAYS!" one shouted
"Ten MINUTES," the next one giggled.
The oldest calmly said, "She's not going to change many lives in just that amount of time."
He gets it.
My heart may be obliterated at the thought of leaving them for an entire year, but when I told them I was going, and they asked why, one of the reasons I told them was, "For you."
I want all my "kids" (esp my nieces and goddaughters, but all of them) to have a rock solid belief that even if God doesn't have their heart's "Plan A" of husbands, babies and family in their life-plan, their lives are still full of worth. God can use single women in big ways. Adventures don't only come with wedding bands.
But most of all, I want them to get that HOWEVER He calls us, the right thing to do is say "Yes."
This is beautiful. I love that you want to demonstrate a heart that always says "yes" to God. Thank you for your example!
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ReplyDeleteI'm a little late on reading blogs...but loved this post. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart. This is a msg I want my kids to see lived out in front of them. I dream and pray for you that Plan A does happen someday because it is your desire. But if your Plan A and God's Plan for you are different, I know His is BEST and I'm grateful you are willing to live that!
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