Not Just Another Sunday Morning

Sunday morning everything was against me.  I was trying to get our house ready to show potential buyers, getting ready for church and for going to St Augustine after the service, all before 8:30 A.M.  By the time we arrived at church I was stressed.  I watched all the beautiful, perfect people enter the building with their perfect kids and felt totally inadequate.

It's very hard going somewhere new with Joshua.  We had visited this church one time before, but I was not ready to face the stares from strangers who always seem to have this expressions like they are not sure what disability Joshua has, but if they stare long enough, maybe it will come to them.

Somehow, we manged our way through the crowd and upstairs to a remote loft with tables and chairs and a large TV screen on which we could watch the service without worry of causing too much distraction.  (I know, I am very self-conscious.  I'm workin on it.)

It was a great message on finance.  This is Allan's cup of tea, so to speak - he loves and is well educated in the is area.  Joshua enjoyed a coffee smoothie and drew on a paper.

When it was time to go, we decided to slip out early as we had to hit the road to St. Augustine.  As I walked past a teenage girl, she motioned to me to come over.   Pointing to Joshua she said, "I just want to tell you that I see so much light coming from him".

I wasn't even aware anyone was watching him.  I thanked her and told her that was really encouraging to me.  Wow!  She must be an amazing girl, herself.  It was worth coming just to hear those words.  Thank you God, Light of the World,  for that gift!!  And help me not be afraid to shine some of Your light too!

WHO WILL STAND?

Joshua hugging bear!

Joshua started a new school this year.  It is a small private school and we are praying he will learn much and make new friends.  Allan is back to work, Jeremy is back to college and Lauren is at work.  This is my first time in weeks to sit down with my new laptop and post a blog.

Unfortunately, I am being pulled in many directions at this time in my life so THE JOSHUA JOURNEY may be limited for awhile.  I would love to have the leisure to write and tell you more about Joshua and all the ways he amazes me everyday.  He is such a loving and insightful boy who is quickly growing into a young man.

One thing that amazes me the most is Joshua's love and acceptance for other people.  He has a passion for life and people no matter who they are, where they are from or what they look like.  I echo the words of Brandon Heath for God to,  "give me Your eyes so I can see everything that I keep missing, give me Your love for humanity".

As I start this new year I want to be like Joshua and have that passion for others and for this world.  It's so easy to walk past someone on the street you know is hurting, to drive by a homeless person holding a sign or overlook a family member who is struggling. 

Another Christian artist, Matthew West, sings, "I don't want to go one more day without Your all consuming passion inside of me.  So, I decided to make that my prayer for this new year, to ask God for that kind of passion, which will require time and energy from me to spend everyday in God's word and prayer.  Also, time and energy to do what He tells me to do, and like Joshua, to stand for Him.  Will you join us?