At 8:32 am almost two years ago, having read God’s Word together with a group, God released me from my family in the states to live a life in a different place—to embark on a journey only God himself could orchestrate. In that next month, the Spirit impressed upon my heart that my good Father would give me family in this strange new land. He did. He did so more than I could have ever asked or imagined. He provided me with some thing that I did not know I needed.
I have lived life deeply with my family. My heart has loved. My heart has been loved.
Today, I just returned from a weekend stay. I hugged my mom and sisters here so tightly, just like I hugged my family in the states so tightly when I left. No, I am not leaving yet, but soon. And there is no way to shield my heart because already, my heart knows the goodbyes I am about to say.
I have family in Central Asia—a mom and dad and sisters and brothers and nieces and nephews and cousins that I did not know about until this God appointed time in my life. Some people think we do not favor one another. I disagree. If you would see us talk, hear us laugh, watch us play, witness our love and even be there as we cry together, you yourself would say, “Yup, that is one crazy family.” I fit in nicely.
O how thankful I am this morning and every day for my family—my “here family” and my “there family”. O how blessed I am by my Father. How blessed I am to see His faithfulness and His goodness and His words to me come to pass after 8:32 am on a cool fall day.
God help me in these days.
