Choices

Chris's cousin married a wonderful Jesus following young woman.  They have been married approximately 9 or 10 years, have 4 beautiful children (the exact same ages as our children), and are in the process of moving to Africa to minister to orphans there to name one of their goals.

Natalie and her four little joys.

Meanwhile, they are here in the US raising support and living for Jesus in this present moment at this present place.  Natalie has written this stomach-twisting, goosebumply piece about choosing to follow the Holy Spirit's prompting. Even imperfectly.

And how it played out in her life.  It's beautiful.  May my heart be more like hers. And ultimately more like Jesus'.

You can read her entire piece here.

But here's a sampling:

it was my lunch hour.  i ran across the highway to grab lunch quick at the gas station before the afternoon's patients arrived.  it was cold and snow crunched under foot.  the kind of cold that cuts through you and numbs hands in seconds.  i am hurrying back to my car.  away from the cold.

and he stops me.  bundled in his coat, looking a bit disheveled.  tells me he has lost his job.  he and his girlfriend have lost their trailer home and are headed to his parents to try to get back on their feet.  do i have any money i could spare for gas to get them to his parents in a town an hour away.

and i pause. and the lies of society and the walls of self-above-others scream to get in my car and leave.  rationalize that he is running a scam for money that is heard about on the news or in email.  feel almost offended that he asks me because i am so sure he is going to take advantage of me.  but i stop. and slowly my heart takes over. 

posted with permission from Natalie of just our little life