47 junior high and high school students, including my two sons, left the parking lot of Valley Life Church Surprise this morning to make their way to ZONA 2018.
Over the years there have been many times I’ve felt hopeless for my sons. I’ve felt the pressure of raising them in a home where there has been near-divorce more than once because of the differences in my husband’s and my faith. It is a difference in faith.
Once on a long walk when I was sure the marriage was over my husband asked me what marriage meant to me. I shared my thoughts, he shared his. We had concerns, chief of them I voiced, “We have two different loves.” He agreed. Even still come September we will be married for 25 years. That’s evidence of much grace from above.
Watching my boys enter that van, with those other students, and youth leaders knowing they’re heading to a place where the emphasis will be how God has set us apart to be a people for himself, I thought, “Don’t forget this Sheila! Don’t fail to capture this moment and thank God for hearing your prayers and working in your sons’ lives.”
The afternoon without the noise of two teenage boys was peaceful, but I wouldn’t trade it for their noise. There’s definitely a need for a parent to have a break from their kids, but having a clean house that doesn’t get messed up five minutes after it’s cleaned, and a fridge that stays stocked with food, and quiet isn’t worth trading for the messy, loud, hard, intimate relationship of mother and son. I’ll enjoy the break, but I’ll be super glad to greet their, “Oh brother mom!” faces when they get home.
I pray they’ll know they have been set apart.
For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 1 Corinthians 7:14
‘Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:13-16
Sheila Dougal 