Prayer...

I was in church one sunday morning when a dear friend of the family and my Sunday School teacher handed me a pink envelope before sitting in her pew. I was very pregnant with Abigail, so as worship started and everyone began to rise and sing, I opted to remain seated while I opened the letter. As my eyes read each word, tears started streaming down my face. The letter was written about my grandmother who had passed away years earlier. This woman and my grandmother were friends for many years. Thinking back, as a little girl, I remembered seeing her occasionally at my Mama's house.

She described to me what an amazing woman my grandmother was and how her favorite scripture was 3 John 4

" I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."

I continued to read as she wrote how it was a privilege to be able to teach her granddaughter (me) and how proud my Mama would be if she were able to see from heaven the woman I have become and the family I have.

I never knew my grandmother as an adult. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's when I was 12 years old and rapidly declined from there.

I was so moved from that letter that I had to remove myself from service to get my bearings. This was the first time I have cried about my Mama since her death in 1999.

That verse has stayed with me since. As I was filling out this years homeschool goals for each of my children, this verse was what came to mind. No matter what I teach them, how many fractions they simplify or antonyms they can think of... none of these matters more than their eternal destiny. This is my goal. This is my hope for them as I teach them this year.

Im committing my children to prayer. That their eyes are opened. That they see God for who He is and they have a relationship with Him.

My prayer for them in all they do is to display the character qualities we study in every day life. That their joyful attitude and selflessness displays the love of Christ.

My prayer for them this year is to grow closer to Jesus and to realize that the world is so much bigger than them and the latest Wii game.

My prayer for them is that they will hide Gods word in their heart. Let it be something that NO ONE can ever take away from them. May it be something they think about during the day and sing about at night.

My prayer for them is to be certain that no matter what this life brings thru the years, no matter what happens, we will all be together again in Heaven.

This is my prayer.