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The Struggle of Letting GoWe're approaching the 1-year anniversary of my brother and his wife heading to West Africa to be full-time missionaries. Dad recently wrote a very honest reflection about his and Mom's struggle with, and eventual acceptance and blessing of their decision to go. An excerpt:
As Mark and Parker continued through the process, Janis and I were hoping (and selfishly praying) that God would help them to see that they were already serving as very effective missionaries to the youth culture – and that “if it was God’s will” (as it was our will) that something would come up to block the process.
It's called "The Struggle of Letting Go: A Perspective from the Father of a Missionary".
Reading Dad's article reminds me that I have no idea where God will call my kids. When we dedicated them at church, we acknowledged that they were not ours, but rather God's, and only entrusted to our care for a short while. I need to be constantly reminded of this fact. Is this how I am approaching my parenting and my prayers for the kids? Or am I, like Dad once did, just asking God to bless my plans for their lives?
Thanks for the humble and encouraging article, Dad.
Billy Chia says:
- August 28, 2007 9:31 AM
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Jonathan,
Good call. Music is a big part family life at the Chia house. (I'm sure at your house too.) Sarah and I assume both of our girls will always use music in some way, but we also try to acknowledge that we don't know where God will call them or what he will call them too.
Eve-Marie is killer at doing cartwheels. I think if she ever really got into something like gymnastics or cheerleading then I'd probably be praying, "Lord please block the way."
The questions you are asking are good ones.