Transforming the Mind: Finding God in Worship
#SUM Nation Walmart Day

She's Moving to Idaho

For those who have read Winning Him Without Words I share a story about one of my friends who sorta, spiritually adopted me, in the early years of my marriage. This story was so powerful in my parenting that I shared it again in our book, Not Alone. 

Here is an excerpt: 

Several days following the “Kitchen Table Debacle,” as I have come to call it, I sat down at a local restaurant for breakfast with a new friend. I had met Jenny the week prior at our church Bible study. She was a tad bit older than I was, and a lot wiser. She and I clicked from the start. I remember pouring out my fears about my daughter’s salvation while Jenny listened. After hearing my story, she said something to me that I will never forget. She gave me a Scripture verse.

Train up a ChildTrain up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Prov. 22:6, KJV).

Jenny looked across the table, gently holding me in her eyes. She patted my hand and said, “Lynn, you do the best you can to train your daughter and then you trust the Lord to keep His promise.”

I cried.

Tears of relief. Tears of hope.

She went on to say, “The key to this verse is the word ‘old’.”

Immediately I felt a wave of peace wash over me. I knew exactly what she meant. Our kids may stray from living a life for God. They might outright rebel. They might buy into the lies of the enemy and embrace the ways of the world. Or choose to discount Jesus just like Dad has done. It is a possibility. This is also true of children raised in a home with two believing parents. There are kids who choose to travel the painful path of the prodigal child. But—and how I love it that with God in the story there is always a “but”—if we have trained our children, taken advantage of every teachable moment, encouraged them to attend church (I share more on this in later chapters) and loved on them with the infectious love of Jesus, they will return to God.

I am proof of this truth! 

Since that time of this rare and beautiful Titus-Two mentoring season, our lives have changed and grown busy. We will sporadically meet for breakfast at our same little booth in a very old diner in Old Town Temecula. The last time we met was about two and a half years ago. I shared with her how her teaching on Proverbs 22:6 greatly impacted my life and how I have now shared that with thousands of other mothers through our book. 

Jenny looked at me and relayed a troubling story. She and her husband had been estranged from their adult son for months. He was in a dark place and faraway from God. She looked across the table and I could read the doubt and lack of belief in the words she had shared with me year before. 

Well today I met Jenny Lee at our same little diner, in our same booth to say “Goodbye.” She is moving to Idaho in a few weeks. As our conversation began I asked, “Okay, why Idaho?” 

“My son lives there.” 

“What, I thought the two of you weren’t speaking.” 

“Well, I happened to send him a text last year. That text opened up a door and he called me. He said that he has missed me and Dad so much. He apologized and then asked us to move to Idaho to be near him and the grandkids.” 

“Oh Jenny,” I can’t help but say I told you so, “See your very words that you gave me from Proverbs have proven true even to you. Even when you doubted you would ever speak to your son again.” 

My SUMite family, God’s Word is powerful. Our God is faithful. There is always hope. If you are breathing, God is working. We must always be praying for our children. And in my life of recent, I’ve discovered I need to pray with more faith and frequency for my adult children. Sheesh the crowd her at the Donovan Clan House is keeping me on my knees but I KNOW the King is listening. He is moving. He is faithful.

To my dear sweet friend, Jenny Lee. You were Jesus with skin on when I needed Him. Thank you for loving a messed up young wife. Thank you for being my friend. I look forward with great anticipation for all of the adventures and sharing of testimonies that we will have in the eons ahead of us. And all of our testimonies will be about the faithfulness of our God. The love of Jesus for His Bride and the power of the Holy Spirit. 

May the Lord bless you and keep you in your new home in Idaho. With love your eternal sister, Lynn

On Monday: Our Walmart Prayer Day Update... It's awesome. Stay tuned. Have an amazing weekend.

Both books

 

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