Nothing Less...

Several weeks ago I was on my lunch break at the office when I saw a dear friend calling me. It is so unusual when I see someone actually calling me (doesn't everyone always text)?!? Anyway, I instantly jumped to my feet and began making my way to my car for privacy. I answered the call to hear my sweet friend sobbing on the other end.

She proceeded to tell me that she had received a phone call from school. Her sweet child had made a wrong decision. My friend was devastated. She and her husband had always done their best to instill good values and morals into their children. We frequently prayed for our children together, praying that they would be Christ like, caring and generous people. My sweet friend was taking her child's decision to heart, fearing that she had done something wrong.

I consoled my sweet friend, wishing that we could be meeting face to face over a warm cup of coffee instead of over the phone. I prayed with her and assured her that we can only do the best that we can do while parenting our children, praying for them, surrounding them with a good community and helping them. Ultimately, our children still have the freedom of choice and it is up to them which path to choose.

Days later, I called my sweet friend to check in. She mentioned that they of course discussed the wrong decision and punished their child. What struck me most about this decision was that she said "Keisha, before we spoke about the decision and the consequences, I explained to my child that we do not love them any less for the decision that they have made."

This struck me really hard, I thought about the past year and all of the ups and down's that I have had. I have seen myself pull closely to my Heavenly Father and I have seen myself pull back. I have noticed God wooing my heart, yearning to hold me closely and I have turned my back over and over. Through all of this, knowing that even with all of my sin and "wrong decisions" God does not love me any less. Yet, he continues to woo my heart, placing beautiful sunrises with pink clouds across the sky, the beautiful orange and red leaves turning each day and the loud giggles of laughter from my children as I enter my house after a long day of work. All of these things wishing that I would reach out to him.

Knowing that the Heavenly Father loves me and wants me through all of my pitfalls and failures makes me run to Him faster and makes me continuously aware of His presence in my life. It calls me to seek others who want to have the same love and peace in their lives, and to share His love with them.

Control

By: Tenth Avenue North

I've had plans
Shattered and broken
Things I have hoped in
Fall through my hands
You have plans
To redeem and restore me
You're behind and before me
Oh, help me believe

God You don't need me
But somehow You want me
Oh, how You love me
Somehow that frees me
To take my hands off of my life
And the way it should go,