When you are in a car with a 4 year old child for over 30 hours in 10 days, the scriptures can’t help but be fulfilled!
Deuteronomy 11:19
New King James Version (NKJV)
19 You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
My lovely daughter and I took a journey this last week. We drove from Tulsa to Chicago. Then Chicago to Detroit. Then Detroit to Nashville. Then Nashville to Mississippi. Then Mississippi to Tulsa…all in 10 days! We slept at peoples homes that she had never met, we ate food she had never eaten, we were totally off her schedule. We were encouraging and supporting Merge USA in these locations. I usually have help with Grace in the form of my family but this trip was solo. She did amazing! A few times members of the teams would take her…then pass her along…then pass her along…then pass her along…until nobody knew who had Grace…but all is well. She is fine and asleep in her bed right now.
It was an interesting place for me as well. I am used to giving 110% to my kids when I am home and 110% to our teams when I am with them. Yea, that didn’t quiet happen this time. Nobody was neglected but the words “down time and sleep” weren’t really relevant during this trip.
Grace had a beautiful perspective on everyone. They were all her BEST FRIENDS! She would say…”where is my pink best friend, or my little best friend, or my best friend who likes to carry me?” EVERYONE was her best friend. Very simply…my youngest child loves relational ministry…therefore she loves MERGE. Sitting on the couch in our living room…fresh out of the car. I asked Grace if she wants to go with the teams again. She didn’t even hesitate with a yes. Tired and wiped out…she is ready to go again. I love that.
We were about 3 hours from home last night when is started to pour rain. Grace said “Thank you God for the rain to water the flowers and trees-Amen..MOMMY! Did I just pray?” GRACE LEARNED TO PRAY THIS WEEK! We as Christian parents begin teaching our children to pray at a young age. I personally believe it probably begins with meals. Simple prayers that are repetitive. Grace has always refused! If you know Gracie at all…you know she isn’t a follower. This includes prayer. So when we were driving down the road and Grace spontaneously prayed...IT WAS A BIG DEAL! Once she realized she really, truly prayed she continued to pray spontaneously the rest of the trip. “Thank you God for Daddy. Thank you God for my family. Thank you God for pink. Thank you God for chocolate. etc…”
I LOVE IT THAT EVERY PRAYER GRACE HAS EVERY PRAYED HAS BEEN A PRAYER OF PRAISE!
I will let that sink in for a minute…..
Deuteronomy 11:19
New King James Version (NKJV)
19 You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
