Into the Fire

Twenty-four years ago today (the 23rd, Dec.), the Lord gave me the greatest Christmas gift I’d ever received other than the Lord Himself, of course. My youngest of two sons was born. This child was conceived in prayer, received prayer through 9 months, was safely delivered after my usual miserable pregnancy, met the Lord when he was 6 years old, and although he faced some major spiritual battles as a teen, realizing he was called to be a prayer warrior in the intercessor/spirtual warfare mode, he survived to be a man of God, dedicated to fulfilling the Call(s) of God on His life.

This birth was a redemption of sorts for me in contrast to that of my first son. My oldest son had the sorrows of growing up in a conflicted home with unsaved parents who split up, leaving him feeling the loneliness and abandonment issues that often face children of divorce. Although my first husband and I were equally at fault for the demise of the marriage, my guilt was incalculable even when I later was saved by my Lord. My oldest son stayed with his father, and there were issues with his step-Mom which caused me to rarely see him until he turned 18 and came to live with us. He didn’t stay long, needing to grow up, shed his rebellion, and find focus, but now so many years later, he is married to the most beautiful daughter-in-law in the world, has three darling children, and the entire family is serving the Lord. How thankful do you think I am?

This post barely skims the surface of all that was involved in my earlier life, but you get the drift. I just wanted to take this precious time of the year to pay tribute to the lives of my two sons who I cherish, adore, and know God is leading to all the places He has ordained just for them. They will go, and do, and bring their offerings of obedience to the One who gave them life and purpose, and I am rejoicing in the blessings that they have brought to me–first a wayward, lost Mom and then a redeemed and watchful Mom. Praise the Lord for them.

Heavenly Father, thank you for my sons. May your blessings fill their lives as they follow hard after you. Give them your insights on the paths of their lives. Help them to always step up when their faith is challenged. Guard and protect them as they battle the enemy, and may you provide victory after victory as they fight diligently for the kingdom. May your love flow into their hearts and pour out to the others you have put in their lives. May they know your absolute fullness wherever you lead them and in whatever you ask them to do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.