Yep..it is 10 pm on a Monday and I am home all alone eating Rice Krispie Treats.  My husband and oldest son are on a mission trip and my youngest son went to a buddy’s house to spend the night so he would have something “fun” to do while I work tomorrow. Little did he know that I would develop a “sweet tooth” craving that would turn into a pan of fresh marshmallow-ey yumminess…

So, while I wait for the calamine lotion to dry on my patches of poison ivy that has taken over my lower legs, I will snack on my tasty Treat and wonder…

My husband is in West Virginia working with a team (couple) who basically goes from place to place organizing mission trip opportunities for places that are in need. Essentially, we pay them to find us housing, arrange for our meals, and connect each group to an assignment that is appropriate for the number of people volunteering and ages.

How does one get THAT job, I wonder?

He tells me how he wishes I was there (for more than cooking duty I am told!) and that I would love this couple. After only a day of knowing each other, they (the couple and my husband) are talking of connecting in Maryland when he is there on business next.

We wonder if there is something that can come out of  connection with meeting a couple like that?

My 13 year old son is there, already thriving…doing things he does not do at home with the kids he is meeting from another state. His building skills are being tapped into as he works on projects alongside and also separate from his dad. He is not “social” focused but “missional” focused while he is there already but his friendly demeanor is bound to make an impact on those he comes into contact with.

I wonder what God will reveal to Him this week and if my son will be receptive to hearing His call?

I have been alone with my youngest (the “Young Master”, remember?) for 24 hours and he has already challenged me with his conversational skills…hitting me right in the “fear spot” when he speaks of desiring the “college experience” instead of being interested in a smaller college option…He is only 11 so I do believe we have some time before any decisions need to be made, but his choice of words at this age already surprises me.

I wonder what he will become?  What his interests will end up being fine-tuned to being?

On Sunday, my pastor continued his sermon topic of Romans 12:12~

 A challenge was  given through a series of questions: are we seeing things from the right perspective? Are we seeing things through eyes of faith? Are we seeing things as they are or as I am?

My wise pastor counseled us to recognize that being faithful in prayer opens our eyes to God’s perspective…and to things we never saw before.

There is a bigger view going on than the limited scope of vision that I am currently visualizing-it is a Kingdom’s perspective, an eternal perspective, the FULL puzzle put together and not the pieces laying on the table.

In the perspective of the future for my family, the more time I spend with the Lord in prayer the more clear HIS vision will become. The more time my children spend with the Lord, the more clear His vision for THEM will become.

Then, I read this

My prayer needs to be for myself AND for my children to KNOW how to discern which is the right choice to make and when is the right time to make it. I need to also pray that God will continue to grow this ability in both me and them.

The 365 Most Important Bible Passages for Mother’s writes this point beautifully: “So often we pray for our children to make the right choices. We want to protect them from the consequences of bad decisions and see them reap the rewards of good ones. Even though we might be able to coax, impose, or control their compliance, the real goal is for them to want to embrace the right choice. Whether our children are two, twelve, or twenty, we can expand our prayers for them to fully understand how to make decisions that honor God” (197).

I wonder?

Nah, I KNOW that God has plans for my family and He is working it out in all of us at the ages of 43,42,13, and 11.

Open my eyes, Lord, in such a way that my faith will be my eyes.

Grow that same desire in my children.

Amen.

P.S. My Rice Krispie Treat is all gone (my piece, not the pan!)