While in my mid 30’s, and as a wife, mother, and career woman, I can honestly say that… As for me and my house, we did not serve the Lord.
We did not serve Him because we did not believe in Him.
Growing up, probably like many kids at the time, I felt forced to attend church every Sunday morning and oftentimes Sunday and Wednesday nights too. I went to several summer church camps and the parents of my closest friend were Sunday school teachers. And yet, in my circle of family and friends, I can’t say that I saw anyone “living” a surrendered life for Christ that was different from anyone elses.
Because I wasn’t sure that I believed in God or His transforming power to change lives, I decided as a young parent to let my child make up her own mind about if she wanted to attend church and more importantly believe in Jesus. I’m not sure how I thought she was going to make up her own mind without any knowledge on the subject, but I was not going to force her into believing something that I wasn’t convinced of myself. This attitude of “neutrality” is one of my greatest regrets as a parent, but thankfully God used others to plant seeds of truth in my daughter’s heart and ultimately used her to plant them in mine.
This seed planting process played out in the form of my daughter, Amber, who at the age of 12, responded to the call of God by dropping a note into her Momma’s suit pocket as she dashed out the door to catch a flight to a very important business meeting. She told me not to read the note until later.
I didn’t think much about it at the time. It was probably just a sweet note of encouragement since she knew this was an important day in my career and I was very nervous. I had recently been promoted to a new job and given a very difficult job assignment. On short notice and with little training, I was asked to deliver a presentation to a roomful of my new peers and boss. I can’t remember now if I read Amber’s note before or after my presentation. What I do remember is completely nailing the presentation and knowing that I had done so only by the enabling of a supernatural power. I literally got a standing ovation and that pivotal moment lead to many future career successes and opportunities.
At the time, I don’t think Amber realized that God was working in her life and that by placing that note in my pocket, she was responding to His Spirit. You see, the note was more than a word of encouragement; it was actually a love note. Written on that small piece of paper was a scripture verse that would ultimately become my life verse! “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will make your path straight.” Prov. 3:5, 6. When I finally read her note I remember thinking how sweet it was of her to take the time to right out this scripture for me but didn’t realize its potential significance. It was only after I delivered my presentation, and realized I had not accomplished that on my own, when something inside me finally clicked. For a while I had been struggling with trying to understand and make logic sense of how I was going to have faith and belief in a God that I couldn’t see or touch. And then the truth of that scripture began to take hold. I believe God revealed himself to me through the experience of my giving that presentation in a way that greatly exceeded my ability. He allowed me to see a glimpse of His power that was beyond my understanding and yet completely real. He showed me how I could have faith in a God that I could not see or touch… but could fully experience!
I believe that one small act of obedience through the hand of a child,… who simply placed a “love note” into her Momma’s pocket,… ultimately lead to the surrendering of my life to Christ.