...heart-to-heart talks and tears.

     I about had to force my middle son into the kitchen.  I wanted him to help me bake but he didn't like that idea today.  So, I let him sit on the counter and watch me.  We've been noticing that he doesn't speak as much Spanish as his older brother and I wanted to find out what was going on in his little heart.  While I got ingredients together, I began to talk to him and ask him questions.  He confessed, as he stirred the batter, that he's much more comfortable with American people.  He doesn't feel like he speaks Spanish very well and doesn't know how to answer people when they ask him questions.  *Big brother bursts in and wants him to play soccer.....  "Well, I'm helping Mom right now."  (My heart smiles.)

   

     As tears rolled down our oldest son's cheeks, I decided to push phonics aside the other day and just talk.  He had gotten up early in the morning with Daddy and taken another missionary family to the airport.  And this morning, as I hugged him, that airplane was carrying some of his good friends far, far away for a while, back to the USA.  Instead of picking up my teacher's manual, I picked up a small book we have about Jesus (designed to help kids through changes), and curled up to read with my grieving son.

          These are some of the hardships that MK's (missionary kids) face.  Our little guys have been troopers: we've lived in 9 different houses, 3 different states and 2 different countries in their short, sweet lives.  I used to ask myself, "Is this really fair to drag our kids around like this?  Why don't they get the privilege of living close to their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins?  Will they be stable men when they grow up or are we going to ruin these little guys by moving so much?"  But the Lord has shown me otherwise (oftentimes through my husband's wisdom)!  The Lord has not just chosen my husband and I to go overseas, but our whole family.  He's a good God and He will take care of these things I tend to worry about! 

     I cherish these tender moments, like the ones above.  I love to listen to them pour out their hearts.  I also love to remind them what a privilege it is, even though there are sacrifices, to serve our God!