I'm a bit hesitant to share my gratitude moment today as it is difficult to put into words that would give God glory and not man. Obviously Annabeth had a fun meet today as Jack is so adequately pointing out the many medals hanging around her neck. And just as obvious this is a wonderful moment for us as she has worked so hard for so long to have a fair showing at these meets. But my true moment of gratitude came in a few sentences today that was much more subtle and much more beautiful than those shining medals. Although Annabeth did place first on beam and fourth all-around, she still had to face a rather jolting set-back today. She was rocking right along until those darn bars. Annabeth and the bars have never truly bonded and today their rocky relationship reared it's ugly head. Gymnastics is a judged sport and therefore subject to the thoughts of man. She finished a seemingly fine bar routine but was surprised to see a 7.8 pop up on the scores. I could tell she was very disappointed as this was an extremely low score for her, and she didn't miss any major elements. I did the crazy Mommy hand motions from the stands hopefully telling her to brush it off and attack the next event. (It might have also looked like I was removing dandruff and contemplating stabbing someone, but I think she got the point.) I noticed she brushed away a few quick tears and geared up for beam. Later as we were walking hand-in-hand back to the car and talking about the meet, she said "I was pretty upset about those bars, Mom. I really wanted to just cry and pout and not talk to any of my teammates, but then I decided to pray for God to help me with my attitude. And then He changed my heart so I could tell them all good job and move past that bar score." She said it fairly matter-of-fact and ran ahead to walk with her grandparents, but I stopped to cry out thanksgiving because it was a moment for me to see the Holy Spirit at work in the life of my child. This is where it is difficult to write words that don't claim any glory for myself or Annabeth, but to offer praise that Christ is at work in the life of his children no matter how old or young they might be. I think sometimes we see the day-to-day, mundane actions of our children; the clothes on the floor, the bickering with siblings, the talking back, and we get sidetracked from praying for God to bring them to a saving knowledge of Him and for them to truly love Him as Lord of their lives. We want to pray all those sinful actions away and forget to pray for their hearts to be owned by the one true God. Then when the Spirit does work in the life of my children, I'm amazed and shocked to see some small fruits of the work He has been doing all along. Oh me of little faith. I think if God doesn't zap my children with perfect obedience immediately after my day of praying for them then surely something must be amiss. The work of the Lord is not according to my plans or my time-frame, but He is faithful to bring about the completion of the salvation of His children and for this I give thanks. I'm just so humbled and thankful that today when I could have been contemplating how to egg that judge's car, the Lord spoke through the lips of my child to show me the eternal perspective of God faithfully at work in the lives of those who call Him Lord and Savior.
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