If you are a parent, you have most likely experienced a moment where you ask yourself the question, "That isn't my child, is it?". Or you may look to your spouse and tell him/her, "You need to do something with your child". The question can be asked in a positive or negative way and I have asked it using both regarding my kids. Yesterday though was one of the proudest moments I have ever had in being a dad. We took my daughter to Liberty University where she met with close to 200 other students who are leaving to go on mission trips literally all around the world for the next 3 weeks. She felt God calling her to go to Italy and serve. We have heard from so many, that "Italy doesn't need missionaries." Italy, like many European countries, is what is referred to as a "Post Christian" country. A vast majority of europeans, look at Christianity as an antique type of religion. In other words, they are too far advanced in intelligence to accept that we need a Savior. Anyways...
We dropped her off, got her signed in, and setup in her 2 night stay in a dorm on campus. We gathered around in a circle as a family around her and prayed in her dorm. We are not a perfect family. I don't have perfect kids and I am no where close to being a perfect guy. However... the sweetness of the few minutes listening to my kids praying about this trip made this unperfect but very sensitive guy break down. It was what we Christians call a "God Moment." To hear my kids not just pray for her safety but to pray that she be led to someone who needs God in their life. That is the ONLY purpose she has for going. The thought that her small amount of time there, the small investment it took to send her there... all this could change someone's eternal destiny. The thought overwhelms me.
I feel so blessed to have the family members in my life that God has graciously given me. For a moment while at Liberty, I had a moment of pride and then I noticed the t-shirts that the LU students were wearing as they checked in the missions teams. They read - "It's Not About Me." It never should be... It should always be about bringing glory to God and lifting others up.
Before leaving campus, we drove around and re-lived some humorous and special times that Trish and I shared there. We pulled many pranks on others there while students... fun times. The kids, as they listened, I think even thought for a moment that their parents may have been cool at one time. We showed them the place that I and 3 other guys serenaded Trish and her roommates... the place that I asked Trish out on our first date... It was fun to re-live some special moments. It has almost been nearly 25 years since I arrived on campus as a student. I would have never dreamed that 25 years later, I would return with my family and dropping off a kid to fly to the other side of the world to tell someone else about Christ. Humbly, I thought to myself when we drove off, "That isn't my child is it?". Really, she's not. She's God's child and I simply have the extreme privilege of being called her dad. I love you Whitney!!!
