You Thought I Was Not Watching....

You thought I was not watching….

 

You are smart.  You love numbers.  The world was a calling you to make a name for yourself in your prime.  The potential you had was limitless.  You possess drive, discipline, compassion, accurateness, and tactfulness just to name a few.  Yet, your answer was no, and in the process, you accrued treasures that are eternal and stored up for you in heaven.  You said no to frivolous things.  You did not need the newest car or the nicest clothes or the newest things- all things that would require more and more money.  Specifically, you said, “I would rather live in a tent than miss out on raising my babes.”  By saying no to excess, you said yes to your children and in return your grandchildren.  

 

You thought I was not watching you fold endless loads of laundry or make meal after meal, but I was.  It modeled the provision of the father. 

 

You thought I was not watching you pull out your devotion to spend time with the one who made you and me, but I was.  It modeled devotion and dependence- both beautiful and essential for life with God. 

 

You thought I was not watching you stay faithfully married with your husband and my Dad and not run to another or throw in the towel when life gets hard as it does for us all, but I was.  It modeled staying power. 

 

You thought I was not watching you ache over my poor choices, but I was.  It modeled pursuit, love, and grace ultimately playing a part in me believing God is not mad at me and succumbing to grace. 

 

You thought I was not watching you give your time to others through volunteering, but I was.  It modeled service and sacrifice.

 

You thought I was not watching you use your money wisely acting as a good steward of all God entrusted to you by living below your means, saving wisely, &  lavishly giving, but I was.  It changed the trajectory of the family for generations to come. 

 

You thought I was not watching you sacrifice your sleep to pray or listen to a child that needed to talk, but I was. 

 

You thought I was not watching you in all those monotonous tasks for all those many years, but I was.  Thank you for each little chore, each little meal, each tear you every cried, each prayer you prayed….for they were not in vain.  I love watching God shape you and grow you.  It is beautiful.  

 

I too love Jesus and pray that in my brokenness my children will somehow see Jesus and succumb as I did to his wonderful grace.