LETTING GO and LETTING THEM FLY…

No matter how old your children grow to be or how far away they travel, in a mom’s heart they are always close and at home. She can feel their joys, their pains, their let downs and their triumphs, and although she may not be able to kiss it and make it feel better like she once did, and she may not be able to reach out and give her tender touch or a comforting hug, there is one thing that she can always do – PRAY! In the last week this realization really hit home when my son Chris called me from Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio where he is training to become a Combat Medic for the Army and told me that he didn’t pass his EMT National Registry Test. I could hear the disappointment in his voice (up to this point he had a GPA of 85%) and a sense of, “Mom I wish you were here to give me a hug and prepare my favorite comfort food.” But I am several hundred miles away and all I could do is listen to what he tells me; then put on my cheerleading uniform and cheer him on for the next time (they get three opportunities to pass this test because it is really tough, and it should be they will be expected to save the life’s of injured soldiers).

I know I can’t quiz him like I once did before a test or make sure he gets a good night’s rest and I can’t make him that perfect breakfast for brain power the morning of this big test. But, I can encourage him and Lisa too every chance I get by text, email, a handwritten letter (people serving our country in the military really like receiving letters from loved ones), a voice mail, a phone call and a good ole heart to heart with my heavenly Father and ask him to guide Chris, to give him the wisdom to make good choices when it comes to choosing to study rather than play – yes, in the Army they still have that opportunity and then, let God take the wheel and lead him down the path he has purposed and planned for his life! When I trust and call on HIM to HELP I know that Chris will pass that test!

So Father give my children the strength and wisdom to be all you have called them to be. As a mother, that is all I can ask for because I know they can’t do it alone!

Faithfully,

Cinderella

SOLD OUT and SURRENDERED to the CROSS

A few Friday evenings ago Frank (my husband) came home so excited about a young woman he had just met in the parking lot of our neighborhood Wal-Mart. I know some of you are probably asking yourself, “Why is she (me) not upset about him coming home excited about a young woman he just met?” Well, Frank - aka - “Baby Jesus” our daughter Lisa nicknamed her father that because he is sold out to our Savior and loves meeting other people who share that same affection! First, he handed me this handcrafted wooden cross and said, “This is for you!” Then he said, “Honey, I just met this girl, her name is Lacy and we had the coolest conversation and I want you to met her.” To which I replied, “REALLY… DO TELL ME MORE?” He continued… Well, he said, she is selling these crosses for a Ministry she is involved in that helps people that are recovering from drug and alcohol addictions, but it’s more than that he said, they worship together as a community of believers. Lacy ended up there after being arrested for possession of an illegal substance and she was given a dilemma by the judge, “JAIL or Strong Tower Ministries? She chose Strong Tower and has never looked back! Lacy has been clean and sober for over two years and is now employed full-time at Strong Tower Ministries. She shared her amazing recovery story with me about how God has delivered her from being addicted to heroine and prescription pain medication and how thankful she is for Strong Tower that was placed in her path that helped her get there! She said, “All I had to do was SURRENDER to the CROSS and GOD provided ME with HIS MERCY and the SHELTER of HIS STRONG TOWER!”

Frank was right! It was an AMAZING STORY of RECOVERY! Thanks for sharing your story with us Lacy, may you continue to STAND STRONG!

Check out Strong Tower Ministries at www.urmystrongtower.com

Faithfully,

Cinderella