I Am Thankful November 25, 2008

written by MCD — This Thanksgiving I am thankful for my family.  First, I am thankful for my dad.  My dad is a chaplain in the Army, and he loves and follows God.  Second, I am thankful for my grandmother, Nee Nee.  I am thankful that she plays with me.  We play that I am in the hospital having a baby, and she is my nurse.  Finally, I am thankful for my cousin, Sarah Grace.  She is my favorite cousin on my mother’s side.  She is my age, and she loves what I love like animals and Barbies.  I am thankful for a lot of things, but I am mostly thankful for my family.

 

Witnessing with Laundry Kits November 16, 2008

For the next 2 months, the kids and I are doing ministry projects for social studies.  One of the main things we are doing is preparing for our single or geographically-separated soldiers to return from Iraq.  Two weeks ago, we made signs to hang in their barracks, and this week we put together 125 laundry kits, filling one Zip-Loc bag with a scoop of detergent and putting a dryer sheet in a second Zip-Loc bag.   We will staple the 2 bags together to put in a Welcome Home kit.  I was hoping to think of some cute tag-line to write on a note to attach to the bags, so M, J, and I began brainstorming ideas.

The very first thing out of their mouths was something spiritual.  Mary said, “We could write…’Let the blood of Jesus clean your hearts from sin!'”  Joseph thought that “Get that stinky dirt right out of your heart” sounded good.  Unfortunately, these laundry kits are being provided by our FRG as a whole so we cannot include any religious messages.  But it sure did make me proud to hear BOTH of my children immediately come up with ideas for sharing Jesus with these soldiers, instantly recognizing the connection between washing the dirt from their clothes and letting Jesus clean their hearts as well.

By the way…if you can think of a good tag-line, let me know.  We still haven’t stapled the bags together, and we have 75 more to go.

600 Steps

On our trip to Blue Ridge, GA during R&R, we had the opportunity to climb to the top of the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi River — Amicalola Falls.  Fortunately, it is located in a state park, so there are several  ways to actually get to the top of the falls.  One — you can drive on a paved road all the way to the top, park, get out and look around.  Two — you can drive to the midpoint, park, and climb to the top.  Three — you can park at the bottom and climb the steps all the way to the top.   Our family decided to climb. 

This journey is divided into 3 parts.  The first part is a semi-steep short hike on a paved walkway to the bottom of the stairs.  The second leg is the climb up 175 steps to the midpoint of the falls, and the final leg is the climb up 425 more steps to the top of the falls.  It was a difficult but wonderful journey, and of course, it reminded me a lot of my own real life. 

These past 24 months have been a difficult but wonderful journey almost identical to the hiking we did at Amicalola Falls.   In January 2007, we experienced a short but intense introduction into military life with S first going to Ft. Jackson for 3 months for training and then immediately to NTC for another 2 months.  Just like the first leg of the hike, we were challenged a bit, but made it fairly easily.

Similar to the next 175 steps from the bottom of the falls to the midpoint, the next 5 months for us were just a taste of what was to come.  We spent that time moving, preparing, wondering, and questioning what in the world had we gotten ourselves into.  

Although those first 175 steps of the climb were harder than the paved walkway, there were still areas along the path that were worth noticing and taking time out to enjoy and experience.  In the same way,  we received blessings during this more difficult time.  We made new friends.  We went camping in 2 different states.  We swam in the Atlantic Ocean, and we spent a week on one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. 

And after the first 175 steps, there is a wonderful bridge across the midpoint of the falls with an absolutely gorgeous view.  It is a place to regroup, take a rest, soak up the beauty of the surroundings … and either quit and go back or press on. 

I think this midpoint for us was the postponement of deployment…from June to July to September and finally to October.  We were able to share several extra months with each other, getting settled in, preparing ourselves for more changes, taking time to just be together as a family, doing things that we love to do.  But even during that time, we knew what was before us.  So when October arrived and orders to deploy were not changing, we pressed on!

425 steps still to go.  And the sign says it all…

So the last 13 months have been — difficult and strenuous and a long, long way to the top.  But we are pressing on.  Because I know that if the reward at the end of this 24 month journey is anything like the reward at the end of the hike to the top of the falls, then we will be more than amazed at what we have accomplished… grateful that God gave us the strength to press on and finish the course that was set out before us! 

So whatever hike you are on…remember that it may be difficult.  It may be strenuous.  But God will provide beauty along the way, and you will be rewarded with a fabulous view from the top!

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Galatians 6:9