I Hope You Do!

A vegetable garden is growing in the backyard this summer.  It's not nearly as pretty as the flowers were that I planted for the past 15 years.  But planting broccoli, corn, beets, tomatoes, brussell sprouts, and onions was a lot more fun with my Rory helping, than planting flowers all alone.  (Boys don't "like" to plant flowers!)

"When I buy my first house...................." was the conversation topic.  It's fun listening to my son dream and plan.  "I want to have a gigantic backyard so my dogs can run around.  And I'm going to have a huge garden and grow all my own vegetables.  I'm going to go hunting and prepare all of our own meat."  Somewhere in there, I think he may have even said I could visit for dinner now and then.  ;)

I cherish that time spent in the backyard with Rory.  I look out now at the vegetables growing, and recalling our conversation and his dreams for the future remind me of his tender heart.  

This past few days I've thought about his dreams, & I've thought about my own for my children.  I want more for my kids than I was able to give them.  I want life to be easier for them than it was for me.  I don't want them to struggle financially.  I want them to be healthy.  I want them to fall in love and marry the perfect girl, have healthy children and to be happy and successful. I want them to be able to afford to send their children to college, buy them cars, take nice vacations, have a dog or two...    and the list goes on and on. 

During my hour-long drive home from school this evening, I was thinking about my own life, thinking about things I may or may not do differently, if I had a chance to go back.  And in retrospect, it was the most difficult times in my life that I felt the closest to Christ.  (I wouldn't change a thing.)  I prayed that their relationship with Him would continue to grow closer and closer whether in good times, or in difficult seasons.  

I was also distracted on my way home by back pain, severe at times.  At first I asked Him to take it away, but remembered that He uses all things for my good.  Certainly my back pain will serve some purpose.  I'm sure of it...........    

As I came in the front door from school, I said to Ian, "My back is killing me.  I don't know how I'm going to get through work tomorrow."  Immediately, he laid hands on my back, and prayed "Lord, please take Mum's back pain away so that she can keep serving you and taking care of people and telling people about your son."

And then came my biggest, newest prayer for both of my children.  Here is it...........

Rory and Ian, I pray that no matter what circumstances you must walk through, that you thank God for them, and see them, good or difficult, as opportunities to grow closer to Christ.  I pray that if you choose to get married, that your spouse loves Jesus, and that together you serve Him.  I pray that you are as blessed as I have been with healthy and incredible children, and that they love and serve Christ.  And I pray that you always pray with your children, and that they come to share prayer with you as well.  And I pray that you do that often - together.  I pray that you are best friends for the rest of your lives and that you keep Christ at the center of your families - the ultimate source of peace in families.   You have no idea how much I love you both...........   xo Mum

ps) And I hope you have a vegetable garden that is as beautiful as mine, and that you plant tomatoes next to your kids and listen to and encourage their dreams.  I hope you have a big back yard.  And I hope you do...............    have a couple of Golden Retrievers ;)