Thoughts from the Boys

The daily emotions of seeing the looming "END" of life here is overwhelming at times.  Frequently, in fact.  Goodbyes are constant.  We walk away from every moment with friends and family wondering, "When will I see them again?"

Our boys are feeling it too.

(The *.....* symbol means, "What does a mother say?  What can this mother say?  Especially when I feel the same way...   *.....*)


Tucking Braden in last night, he asked with uncovered emotion, "Mom, do you think we've said at least half of our goodbyes?  I don't want to keep saying goodbye."

*.....*

AND

For the past few years, our older boys have attended Rivers Edge Christian Academy which is a three day a week homeschooling co-op.  The boys have grown and matured tremendously in this environment.  Yesterday was their last day of classes and the boys were all saddened by this momentous day.  (Who says that about school?  Ummm, this year - our boys say that.)

At the end of the year, one of Weston's teacher's asked him to write an evaluation of the class.  His paper was lying on the counter, so I picked it up and read it.  Weston, who does NOT express sentiments or emotion very often, ended his paper with this sentence to Mrs. Burnette:

"Next year, when we are in Ghana, I will miss my favorite teacher, you."

"*.....*"

Riding in the van with Mason, he said, "Well, I know now why God gave me so many brothers."

"Why is that?"

Solemnly, Mason responded, "'Cause I don't think I could do this without them."

*.....*

We are in the paradox of an unending emotional roller coaster.   Up.  Down.  Up.  Down.

It's hard...but it's good.

It hurts...but it's healing.

We are saying goodbyes...so we can say hellos.

We feel the pain of leaving deeply...but we wouldn't have it any other way.

Thanks for loving us where we are - and going there with us.  Thank you for praying.  We know this is part of the journey.  Our pain is a path to thankfulness because we recognize the strong relationships the Lord has given us.  Thank you for loving us right where we are.

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. 

Proverbs 18:24


For momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look at things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18