I know this blog is going to be about life and thoughts of mine of life in Uganda, but I'm in the States and my brain and heart have not been put on hold. I've been struck by something simple that has turned into a life lesson, which I'm attempting to make applicable for you. Bear with me on this.
My children...At times, I am totally tuned in, engrossed in their language, their skills their abilities, their humor. Then there are those times I'm tired, distracted, busy, or focused on "greater" things. I can miss out on their little hearts, bleeding through words. Yesterday,I felt God tug on my heart through the example given through my son Isaiah. Isaiah sang a song all day -he never grew weary of it. Over and over, passionate words came from his lips, bringing a smile to my heart. During the school hours, the older boys started complaining, "Mama, Isaiah WON'T stop singing!" It was difficult to tell him he needed to be quiet, lest he frustrate his brothers. But it didn't stop then. He sang it over and over and over, all the way to bed that night. When I was doing the dishes, thinking through the day of parenting without Keith around, I heard Isaiah's little voice once again. These are the words he sang (and is still singing) with reckless abandon:
My God is so BIG
So Strong and so MIGHTY
There's nothing my God can not do FOR YOU!
As I stood there with studs up to my elbows, I felt God say to me, "Do you hear him sing with love and passion?" I replied, "Yes God. I hear him." He then nudged me in the direction of remembering and thinking about Jesus' words to his disciples to have faith (Mark 11, Luke 16:6) in Him. If only they could have faith as tiny as a mustard seed, they would see wonders. I decided to take this a little farther and was scanning through verses on faith throughout the Gospels. I was struck with the realization that Jesus' interacts continually with either faithful or faithless hearts. "You of little faith" or "Your faith has healed you!" Obviously, Jesus sees my heart of faithfulness or faithlessness. He knows when we're singing it like we believe it, or singing it because we have to, or singing it because everyone expects us to. I really think Isaiah is singing it with faith, like he believes it. This isn't a mistake. Perhaps God put the song on his lips for so long, until I finally got the memo.
I don't think I'm the only one that is still in love with Jars of Clay's oldie "Faith like a Child". I re-read through the lyrics and love how they tie into my thoughts. Here they are for a further reflection. Enjoy -and may your eyes be lifted up like mine to believe and sing like you mean it throughout each and every day of our lives -through the faith of a child.
Dear God, surround me as I speak,
the bridges that I walk across are weak
Frustrations fill the void that I can't solely bear
Dear God, don't let me fall apart,
you've held me close to you
I have turned away and searched for answers I can't understand
Sometimes, when I feel miles away
and my eyes can't see your face
I wonder if I've grown to lose the recklessness
I walked in light of you
Chorus: They say that I can move the mountains
And send them crashing to the sea
They say that I can walk on water
with faith like a child
They say that love can heal the broken
They say that hope can make you see
They say that faith can find a Savior
If you would follow and believe
with faith like a child
