And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people. Exodus 14:7
I never knew that... never had heard that passage until the morning of the mother and son hike. To think, I wasn't going to go. I went to bed with the intention of letting him down. There is so much going on, so many things to do and not enough hours in the day to do it.
Our home remains a construction zone and progress stalls. There's also a continuous battle I wage with the laundry pile and this week the dishes have taken to their own assault. I count the hours I am home, rather than working and it's just not enough. There's that word again, enough.
When the blue paper came home in his backpack last year I had the time but not the ability. I was still recovering from my ankle surgery and crutches were the only thing getting me around. I was still in PT twice a week and as much as I knew I was disappointing my son he understood. And... there was always next year.
365 days later another blue flyer makes its way home... Mother and Son Hike... this year we have Saturday soccer games, I thought I was home free... we have a team which counts on him, surely he'd never want to miss... But, to my surprise, he quietly reminds me that the hike is once a year and there are plenty of players and games -- only one day a year to hike with his mom.
I have no excuse, none at all... my to do list needed to make room for this day, whatever it brought. Something had to be crossed off my list but this hike was not it.
We got up and headed out of the house in no time at all... a quick breakfast along the way and we were at the trailhead before we knew it. Joining about 20 other mommas and their boys we started out on an easy path to the dam. Our desert is flirting with fall and the breeze in the air was welcomed for the start. We'd kept up well until we had to break to tie some laces and get out our water.
We fell a little behind and my son wanted to make sure we kept up... "Hey mom, lets jog together!" he said to me... this momma doesn't jog anymore... lazy fear grips me so I just don't attempt it... he accepted my pathetic excuse... but I wanted to give him what he wanted... I wanted to be a momma who said yes to him today. He jogged ahead... and when he looked back... I was jogging on his heels. It's a smile and a moment I will carry with me forever... He said, "Hey mom, see, I knew you could do it. Way to go!" and I thanked him for his love and encouragement.
Our home remains a construction zone and progress stalls. There's also a continuous battle I wage with the laundry pile and this week the dishes have taken to their own assault. I count the hours I am home, rather than working and it's just not enough. There's that word again, enough.
When the blue paper came home in his backpack last year I had the time but not the ability. I was still recovering from my ankle surgery and crutches were the only thing getting me around. I was still in PT twice a week and as much as I knew I was disappointing my son he understood. And... there was always next year.
365 days later another blue flyer makes its way home... Mother and Son Hike... this year we have Saturday soccer games, I thought I was home free... we have a team which counts on him, surely he'd never want to miss... But, to my surprise, he quietly reminds me that the hike is once a year and there are plenty of players and games -- only one day a year to hike with his mom.
I have no excuse, none at all... my to do list needed to make room for this day, whatever it brought. Something had to be crossed off my list but this hike was not it.
We got up and headed out of the house in no time at all... a quick breakfast along the way and we were at the trailhead before we knew it. Joining about 20 other mommas and their boys we started out on an easy path to the dam. Our desert is flirting with fall and the breeze in the air was welcomed for the start. We'd kept up well until we had to break to tie some laces and get out our water.
We fell a little behind and my son wanted to make sure we kept up... "Hey mom, lets jog together!" he said to me... this momma doesn't jog anymore... lazy fear grips me so I just don't attempt it... he accepted my pathetic excuse... but I wanted to give him what he wanted... I wanted to be a momma who said yes to him today. He jogged ahead... and when he looked back... I was jogging on his heels. It's a smile and a moment I will carry with me forever... He said, "Hey mom, see, I knew you could do it. Way to go!" and I thanked him for his love and encouragement.
We went off by ourselves and found a shady spot, we pulled out the devotional prepared for our quiet time together. It started off with rules... rules for hiking, staying on the path, observing nature for dangerous creatures, being sure of where we place our steps. Prepared, aware, staying safe and it morphed into something more...
Parallel to our hiking rules was God's perfect plan for his people. He carves out the days before us and He asks us not to fret over yesterday or worry about tomorrow but staying on the path He has paved and lit up for us.
One of the questions was, "How do we know we have stayed on God's path?" and my son says, "Well, we follow the puffy clouds and the fire in the night." I was surprised at his response... I thought he had completely missed the point... I said... well... "I don't think that's what they are getting at here and besides, I don't think we follow clouds or fire... that's just not biblical....
Who's saying yes it is? You are correct my friend... I just didn't know it.
I challenged him and he told me I would find it in Exodus.
Blown away by that kid.
Parallel to our hiking rules was God's perfect plan for his people. He carves out the days before us and He asks us not to fret over yesterday or worry about tomorrow but staying on the path He has paved and lit up for us.
One of the questions was, "How do we know we have stayed on God's path?" and my son says, "Well, we follow the puffy clouds and the fire in the night." I was surprised at his response... I thought he had completely missed the point... I said... well... "I don't think that's what they are getting at here and besides, I don't think we follow clouds or fire... that's just not biblical....
Who's saying yes it is? You are correct my friend... I just didn't know it.
I challenged him and he told me I would find it in Exodus.
Blown away by that kid.
And that boy was right... I found that scripture and more...
Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines , although that was near; for God said, "Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt." So God led the people around the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt...
Exodus 13:17-18
God didn't lead them the quick and easy way, he spared them from something He didn't think they could handle, something that might have gotten them off track because He knew their hearts... and instead He took them by day and by night... revealing the path by cloud and illuminating fire.
How I wish it were always that simple to see where He wants me to go. Countless times I have said, if only I had a sky writer and a burning bush, then I would go the way He's asked me to.
And... even more for my children. As God shows me who and whose they are... I want even more for them... their paths straight and illuminated. I desire for them to know they are within the Father's will and never stray to far from Him or His guidance.
How I wish it were always that simple to see where He wants me to go. Countless times I have said, if only I had a sky writer and a burning bush, then I would go the way He's asked me to.
And... even more for my children. As God shows me who and whose they are... I want even more for them... their paths straight and illuminated. I desire for them to know they are within the Father's will and never stray to far from Him or His guidance.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for giving us this blessedly beautiful day. I praise you for giving me this wonderful boy to raise. For entrusting him to me and allowing me to be his Momma. I pray for him and his heart. I pray you watch over him all the days of his life, I pray that you never allow him to stray too far from you. I pray he grows up mighty and strong for your army. I pray he chases after you and for you all the days of his life. Lord, this is my prayer for my son... a prayer I have prayed since the day you gave him life. I leave this daily prayer with you and consider it fulfilled. Thank you for your sovereignty, your mercy and your grace. Amen.
Thank you for giving us this blessedly beautiful day. I praise you for giving me this wonderful boy to raise. For entrusting him to me and allowing me to be his Momma. I pray for him and his heart. I pray you watch over him all the days of his life, I pray that you never allow him to stray too far from you. I pray he grows up mighty and strong for your army. I pray he chases after you and for you all the days of his life. Lord, this is my prayer for my son... a prayer I have prayed since the day you gave him life. I leave this daily prayer with you and consider it fulfilled. Thank you for your sovereignty, your mercy and your grace. Amen.
RSS Feed
