Gradually Graduating

So…we’ve graduated…my daughter and I.  She has graduated from high school, and I have graduated from home schooling.  She is off to college, and I am off to writing conferences and to a wonderful adventure in my new job with Love, INC.  Never did I see this for my future.  I often thought I might go to school, perhaps tutor or sit around sipping tea in long gypsy skirts and writing poetry.  But God….He had other plans.

As a wife and mother our lives are laid on the altar every day, taking care of the needs of others before our own.  Our dreams and desires often take a back seat to those of our husband and children.  It makes me think of a scripture that I’ve often quoted around here,

John 12:24:  I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

I kept reminding myself that I was producing fruit through my efforts in the lives of my children and multiplying and advancing the kingdom of God in possibly the greatest way possible: in making disciples.  There were days when I found myself dreaming about what I would do when I had more time in the future.  But there were also days when I lamented the end of an era.  I never, NEVER expected the plans God had for me.  Although, it shouldn’t have come as such a huge surprise, because now that hindsight is 20/20 I can see the proverbial handwriting on the wall.

Someone that I dearly love gave me a prophesy over thirteen years ago:

You are called to the ministry, You will be full-time in the ministry…I have prepared you for this since you were born. The Salvation Army was boot camp. The seed your parents sowed in you will not return void. Continue to prepare yourself so you re ready when I call.

 

I hid this in my heart for so many years…and now I know that I can have the confidence that I was prepared by His loving hands for such a time as this.  When I get butterflies in my tummy about the future, I can remember this prophecy as well as other pieces of evidence that even through trials and tribulations He was all the while tenderly grooming me for what I am about to embark on.  

The very things that I hated enduring most, are the very things that strengthened me for the tasks at hand.  John Bevere was speaking at our church last night, and he reminded us that many times hardships are part of our endurance training for the plans that God has for us.  If I were to start weight lifting, I certainly would not be able to lift 150 pounds the first time I tried.  It would seriously injure me.  The same is true in our lives.  We forget that the triasl of a broken refrigerator or a broken relationship are the very trials that we are to take joy in, because they produce endurance and endurance produces strength and health!

It is in the everyday trials that we are preparing for the extraordinary plans that He has for us.

When we learn to trust Him in these we learn to trust Him with greater things.    When we are faithful over the little things, He will make us faithful over much.

Giving thanks with Ann today:

 
#276 – Amazing grace wind chimes accompanied by birds.

#277 – Flowers everywhere

#278 – Dune grass Yankee Candle

#279 – Finally my lilac tree

#280 – 2 peony buds

#281 – An abundance of vehicles

#282 – Perfect weather

#283 – That my refrigerator waited to break until AFTER the graduation party!

#284 – The laughter of good kids outside my bedroom window at 1:30 a.m.