Awesome Opportunity

No fun pictures to share today, but something better!

Today, Maggie was talking about being scared at night when she wakes up and doesn’t see Mommy and Daddy. I reminded her that Jesus is always with us, and that there is no reason for her to be scared at night. We talked about how she can say a special prayer for Jesus to calm her and protect her when she wakes up and is afraid. A few minutes later, while we were playing, Maggie, out of the blue, said, “Is Jesus really always with us?” I explained to her that Jesus is really with us all the time—whether we’re awake or asleep, happy or sad, whether we’re having a good day or a bad day, whether we’re alone or with friends and family…and that he always loves us, even when we're being disobedient (but that he of course wants us to obey!). She thought this was “amazeable." :-)

This is one of the best conversations Maggie and I have ever had. I love that she is thinking so hard about Jesus and that he is already working in her heart. I am thrilled at the opportunity Jeff and I have daily to witness to our children and introduce them to their Savior. Not often are we given such a blatant ministry opportunity. And I am challenged. I think about the times I have failed my children with my words and actions, and I am motivated to do better. I am challenged to view each day not as “one day closer to the weekend…one day closer to Christmas…one day closer to so-and-so…,” but as one more day I am given the opportunity to teach my children about the love God has for them and prepare them for a life of loving Christ and showing his love to those around them. And what an AWESOME opportunity. Why God has chosen to bless us with these children (even on the “hard” days), I am not sure. But I am thankful beyond words.

Maggie surely did make ME think today.

“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 1:6