Thankful

On my 39th birthday I decided I was going to celebrate going into my 40th year by giving thanks each day for the little things. I started that day documenting through instagram something I was thankful for. I love finding the blessings each day and it will be so fun at the end of the year to look back over all that God has given us. Last Sunday was one of those days the blessings were so abundant I almost lost track. It was the celebration of an amazing week of Vacation Bible School, a fun-filled picnic with our church family and most important, the day our two oldest publicly professed Jesus as their Savior.

As parents, we have have so many hopes and dreams for our kids. We pray for good health, positive choices, excellent grades, uplifting friends and success in life. The last few years the Lord has pressed upon my heart how little all of this means if our children are not following their Savior with sold out hearts. The rest of it actually means nothing if they aren't seeking Jesus above all else. In this world there is so much competing for our attention, especially the attention of our kids. Leading our kids is a command, an honor and no easy task.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

                                                                                                        Deuteronomy 6:4-7

I am so thankful for His grace. Because every.single.day. we fail at leading our kids and following Him with radical abandon. We try our best but because we are human, we fall short. Praise God for His grace. Praise Him that even with our shortcomings, they know Him. They love Him and they are choosing to follow.

As a mama I can't think of a more proud moment. I am so thankful for their choice to follow. I know there is so much ahead of them. So MANY challenges and choices but they have stepped out in faith in the right direction and we will offer them up with open hands and pray they continue to love and follow the One who loves them far more then we could ever imagine.