A Newfound Hero

I (Angie) was given the opportunity to pray with an amazing young woman recently. After hearing bits of her life story, she has become a hero in my eyes. For the sake of privacy, we'll call her Josephine.

Her family sold her as a child and she was brought up by traders until she was 13. She was then sold again, but this time to a brothel.

The madam she was working for has a reckless son who is involved in gangs. The son fell in love with Josephine, and though she still had to work for his mother, he married her.

They soon had a child, and a few years later, another. Josephine was given an opportunity to be freed from her enslavement and she jumped at it. What she didn't know was that she was jumping right into the waiting arms of God the Father.

She became a Christian and overcame personal obstacles to quickly grow in her faith. Her husband has not yet turned to Christ, but has expressed an interest. The fear of his mother holds him back.

So what is it that makes this precious girl so heroic? She is pregnant again, with a son, and she has chosen to name him Joseph.

She explains that Joseph was a man in the Bible who forgave his brothers for selling him into slavery.

Like Joseph, she too, has forgiven her family for selling her into slavery. This is why she is my newfound hero.

It’s All a Matter of Perspective

Today brought with it one of those moments that I like to affectionately call "Pandelirium!". Yes, I know that's not a real word, but it's one that Jason and I often borrow from the American comedian, Jeff Foxworthy. He uses it in one of his stand-up routines when describing a tornado; we use it to describe what happens in our house on occasion. It's one of those moments when everything seems to happen all at once.

Take today, for example. I was in the middle of a conversation via text with my mom, while my oldest son, Caleb, was wishing the rain would go away, and my two youngest children, Justus & Emma, were thoroughly enjoying themselves splashing in the puddles. That was all fine, but then…Emma decided to come in and was instantly STARVING. Justus decided he had had enough and was sent to the bathroom to dry off, but while trying to pull the towel off the rack, he accidentally pulled the rack off the wall! At the same time, Jason sent me a text telling me he was braving the monsoon, was on his way home from work (on his motorbike), and to please have a towel ready and waiting for him. I had puddles on my tile floor (which as you know can be a health hazard and has been the cause of more than one bruised head in my household), and was noticing the rain was now blowing into the house through the various open windows. And that, friends, is "Pandelirium!"

When I sent the above tale to my mom, however, her description of Justus was different than mine would've been in that moment. She said he was such an "exuberant helper", and she could just picture his sweet little face. Wow.

Quite often as a mom, I see the need for a change of perspective when it comes to my kids. I see the day-to-day, the telling and re-telling, the training and re-training. But what hits me like a blast of fresh air is a grandparent's perspective, and better yet, God's perspective. My kids are, after all, mighty little leaders that I have the privilege of bringing up.

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Timeout

Whew! Finally a chance to stop and catch my breath. I really do enjoy my very full and busy life, but I thank God for the chances He gives us to pause for a moment.

 

That reminds me of something my Dad once said. He had preached on a Sunday morning at City Bible Church, so Jason downloaded the message for me. I love it when Dad preaches. Not only because I get to hear the sound of his voice for a prolonged period of time, but also because the sermons he delivers are "meaty". Anyway, what I remember from the sermon was his stated dislike for some terminology that I use on a regular basis. He doesn't like it when parents use the word "timeout", for sending unruly children to the corner, etc. Having been both an athlete and a coach, he explained that the real definition of the word is actually a good thing and shouldn't carry the negative connotation that we parents give to it. In essence, we all need "timeouts", but not because we're doing something wrong…because we're doing something right!

 

The last few weeks have had their highs and lows, but not many chances to call a timeout.

 

Since my last blog on Mother's Day, there have been weddings, funerals, a graduation, and even a surprise visit from a cousin! Casi Tuttle (technically my cousin's cousin) came to Cambodia to help Cambodian Children's Fund for a couple weeks. She is a very fun and easy person to talk to. I got to show her around town a little, and even got to demonstrate what to do when the police pull you over and demand a bribe (not my favorite moment)! Casi also came laden with gifts—sunscreen and Craisins--things that are either too expensive or impossible to find over here. I think we're set for a year! She also provided me with a good reason to get out of the house for some "girl time". It was refreshing and just what I needed. Thanks again Casi! J

 

On May 20, my grandma, Leona Malmin, passed from this life to the next. Even though it was heart-wrenching not getting to be with her, God did a very special thing for me. He gave me a beautiful arrangement of the song my grandmother had written decades ago when she fell ill with polio and lost the baby girl that she was carrying in her womb. I was able to record her song and send it to her the day before she died. Dad said they had set it on repeat when they realized she was drawing her last breaths. So, even though I wasn't there, I feel like I was. I am fully aware of the prayers that others have prayed for me over the last few weeks. They've been much-needed, and deeply appreciated.

 

God is so gracious to carry us through life's seasons, if we let Him.  I can honestly say this one has been beautiful. I would rather go thru it with Him than with anyone else in the world. I would rather be in His will, and feel close to Him, than be anywhere else in the world. Nothing compares.