The lessons God gives us through our children.

Tonight I’m humbled by the lessons God gives me through my children. The journey of moving to Columbus and the change it will be on my children has been tugging on my heart strings this week and I have been finding myself in constant prayer for confidence and solitude in our decision to up root our lived for the Lords calling on our lives.

Tonight as I read Mabry the story of Florence Nightingale, God opened a door to explain to Mabry just what God can do with a life that succeeds in following His call.

For those of you who need a refresher in Florence Nightingale (like I did), she was a young lady raised in the high society of England in the 1800’s. In 1845 she was called to do God’s work as a nurse to the poor in England. This was a time when hospitals were dirty and unsafe and being a nurse was more like being a servant due to the poor and helpless hospital conditions. Florence shared her calling with her parents and they were dismayed by her plans. They refused to let her go. Florence became depressed and ill over this reaction but still held tight to her calling. Six years later her parents finally let her attend nursing school to chase Gods calling on her life. From there Florence’s mere calling to be a vessel for the Lord as a nurse grew more and more into something bigger then she would every dream. She went on to make hospitals “equal opportunity” for everyone, not just members of the Church of England. She made military hospitals clean, organized and efficient and published her reports on Hospital efficiency and its administration, changing the WORLD in nursing and heath care. All this from a willingness to follow a calling that many could not understand.

I explained to Mabry how from her willingness to follow Gods calling and to give her life to Christ lives are still changing today. I explained that this is why it is so important for us to follow Gods call to Columbus and for her daddy to work at Stowe. We may go and change a few lives for Christ as we humbly expect, but if we are willing and open, and it is God’s plan, He can have us through Him change the entire world. What a lesson and reminder for me as well.

Sweet Jesus, thank you for the little lessons you provide when you see I need it the most. I’m so thankful for your guidance and graciousness to answer prayers. You are a mighty and compassionate King and I give you all of me. Open the eyes of my family, friends, and on lookers and show them the mighty things you can do from a simple willingness. Thank you for choosing us. Amen.

-Chelsey