It is almost the end of summer. My youngest has started with his homeschooling. This summer our oldest son went to Ghana on a missions' internship. Before he left, we were busily trying to pack, think things through of what he needed, prep him for things that may be unpleasant, etc. .... it was emotional for me. We knew this was God's will. We could point out things that God had shown us all along the way that showed us this was His will. We traveled to the airport to see him off. I promised myself I was not going to bawl ok for you highly educated folks .... cry LOUDLY. I have to say I did pretty well until it was time to let go and watch him walk to security. Of course I cried not National Geographic wailing cry just a mama's cry of letting go and letting God. Our son just came back a few weeks ago. He had stories to tell and the Lord used this trip to confirm in his own heart the call to missions. Were there times of sadness - yes. Did he miss family get-togethers - yes. There were valleys; life can't always be mountain top experiences. I fear in America we live like Christianity should be easy and if there is a puddle in the road we are to avoid it all costs. Yet in the midst of the lonely times my boy saw God provide. He experienced first hand the beauty of not sharing the same culture or even language but a bond that comes with knowing that each knew Christ as Saviour. When he came home, we went and stood outside of a set of double doors and just stared at them. Through those doors would walk our boy off a Ghana plane on to American soil and on our way home. We stood and stared. We stood and stared longer. Neither of us complained or grew tired - our child was coming home. As I stood there looking at the doors, I thought to myself that it was a very small glimpse of what heaven must be like for my loved ones who are waiting for me to come Home. I know they are worshipping the Lord but I have to imagine that when someone enters Heaven there are some who look to see who it is. Life is full of mountains and valleys but there is coming a moment when we will leave this earth and enter Heaven to be with the Lord forever. A 'forever' that has no valleys. Until then, we keep our eyes upward and our feet moving forward. Friend, are you in a valley right now? On 8/8/2021 Pastor Chris preached "The Valley after the Mountain Top". God uses valleys in our lives to refine and strengthen. Look upward!
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