I confess, there are days that I think back on my life in America and then become sad. Saddened over all the things we are missing: family, seasonal changes, conversing freely in my native tongue, and more. But most often, what saddens me the most is the feeling that my kids are missing out on normal kid things because we live here. Things such as sports, ballet or gymnastics lessons, fitting in, and all the cultural norms that I grew up with (only to name a few).
However, there are also days that I am incredibly thankful that my children are living this life and are experiencing the things they do here. Experiences that I doubt they’d encounter if we had remained in America. Things such as witnessing real poverty and engaging with people who struggle with it, interacting with those who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus yet still standing on His promises, and learning to be courageous enough to overcome language, cultural and social barriers in order to establish and maintain relationships. Oh, these are far more precious and valuable than my daughters knowing how to plié properly or do a back handspring.
Compassion. Generosity. Sacrificial love. All being practiced and built upon in the raw grittiness of everyday life here. Character qualities that don’t come cheap or easy. Rather they come through dirty hands and sweaty brows, bumbling language and salty tears. Yet the beauty that emerges from it makes it all worth it!
So, I may not be raising the next world-class ballet dancer, or the next Olympic gymnast, but perhaps, if the Lord allows, I am raising girls who will one day grow up to have eyes that see the hurting and the courage to press into it with grace and truth. All because they “missed out.”
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11
“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.” Matthew 19:29
2 Comments
Totally! We were going through a couple of boxes of children’s books that we’d had in storage for years… ours and our kids’ books. Sad that we’d not been able to share some of our childhood favourites with our own kids, because the books were in England and we were in Africa. But then we started thinking of all they gained… God knows!
So touched by your story. I wish more children could experience what your children have. To grow up learning to serve the Lord and to see the trials or persecution that some people go through just to be able to believe and praise the Lord.
Bless you for giving ,your children this opportunity.