This weekend our youngest, Samantha is with our church youth group at a retreat for middle schoolers. She left here Friday midday and will return Monday afternoon. I miss her! This is the first and longest time we’ve been away from only her without her staying with my mom.
I’m also very excited for her. The theme of the retreat is “Following Jesus”. I can’t think of a better theme for this age group, or any age group for that matter. I prayed today for Samantha to let the Holy Spirit lead her and for her heart to be open to Him. As a Mom that is a Christian of course I want my children to follow Jesus, but it has to be what they want for themselves more than what I want for them.
Samantha recently celebrated her 12th birthday. Every year that passes I almost can’t believe the time has passed for her to celebrate yet another birthday. I feel that way with all my children. Each doesn’t “feel” like they should be the ages that they are since time seems to pass so quickly when it comes to children growing up. What’s the saying? “The days are long but the years are short.” Exactly.
So today we’ll welcome home Samantha after being away for such a long weekend. And I hope and pray she had a wonderful, moving, almost supernatural experience with our Lord God.
Menay O; mom to 4, Christian and thrift shopper on the side... 