This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Matt 3:17
I know this verse is spoken by God in reference to Jesus, but today they are words straight from this mother's heart. My 15 year old son, David, headed out at 3 am this morning for a mission trip. He will be in Mexico building homes for families that have never had one. For the next 13 days he will be serving the Lord and then praising Him at a convention with thousands of youth. I love my son and I am well pleased. There have been moments where I thought maybe I was too prideful that he was going on this trip. But that's just satan trying to steal my joy. David has a heart for others. (don't get me wrong, he loves himself too, he's not selfless, he is a teen after all). But I've watched the way he has loved me over the years and I knew he had a heart that was sensitive to the needs of others. David, I pray these next 2 weeks will be life changing. That you won't miss one thing that God has for you. That you will understand the love of your Father like never before. I will miss you but I love you and am well pleased.
To all of you out there, thank you all for your encouraging words and your prayers. I've always liked the passage in Galations about carrying each other's burdens but until now I don't know that I have really known the meaning. I've not been on the receiving end of it like I have been over the past few months. What comfort it brings to know that others are going to the Lord on my behalf when I have no words to pray. What comfort that others feel my pain and are carrying part of the burden with me. There are no words to adequately thank you!
God is doing a big work in my family. The kids and I will never be the same. And as I've said before that's not always a bad thing. Striving to be more like Christ. It's painful at times but the result of being more Christ-like, having an unshakable trust, knowing we are loved by the Father...it's worth the pain. It really is. I'm not saying that I'm loving life right now but God is teaching me to look at the eternal and not the temporal. This will pass. Everything will. The goal is not to walk through this life without pain, it is to be presented to the Father and here Him say "this is my son/daughter, whom I love;with him/her I am well pleased".
Thank you, Lord, that you love each of us enough to not leave us in the state we're in. That you keep refining. That you see something in us that we don't see and you're allowing circumstances to mold us and make us more like you. Thank you for giving me my son, I pray he comes home looking more like yours!
- Sheryl
- I am a mom to 2 great kids. I am a child of God who is pursuing after Him as I learn to live in my "new normal". Diagnosed with a life altering illness in June of 2007 and the end of my marriage less than a year later, life has taken a new path. One that I am learning to accept and appreciate. As my illness caused me to be basically home bound, my family named the living room couch "my perch". Thus the title of this blog.
31 comments:
Dear Sheryl, I am praying for David's safety and the restoration of your health. You are a blessing to me and many. Linda
What a beautiful post! You keep reminding us on a regular basis how to see the beauty amidst the pain.
Praying for your son that he sees amazing things while on his mission trip and comes back truly blessed!
God bless you too Sheryl!
Wonderfully said, Sheryl. That is a wonderful tribute to your son and also to our Lord.
I too have been deeply blessed over the last couple months of blogging. Actually, I guess I will have my three month anniversary of the creation of my blog. Yay! Three months of meeting wonderful ladies such as yourself and deeply being blessed.
The Lord is good all the time.
Love,
Paula
fabulous! be proud! that's AWESOME!
Cheryl,
I am going to take you need before the throne of grace tomorrow especially.
I am alone in the prayer room in church @11:00 with alot of personal requests and to pray over the service.
I am taking yours and the Siestas in our group as well there.
Nothing special with "there". But I love the fact that all alone in that room surrounded in that building by others who pray - I can go face down before HIM in reverence, awe, worshipful and with boldness wrapped in HIS grace.
I am taking your family before HIM!
I love you and praying for you!
Teri
Hi Sheryl, I know David will see the hand of God move on this mission trip, and hey it's okay to be a proud Mama *smile* he is doing a positive and rewarding service and I know the Lord is pleased. I know it will help keep him focused on what's ahead.
Hugz Lorie
Sheryl,
Your blog really touched my heart. In the midst of our pain there are days that God shows us light and what this journey is all about. There are times when we don't see or even understand things that happen but through all of this we can always trust his heart. I like you am holding on to my Abba's hand. Where he is leading I don't know but its going to be ok because he is with me all the way!
Sheryl~
Praying for safe travels for your sweet son as he's in Mexico. Trust me, he will return a changed young man. There is NOTHING like young people doing mission work.
Our precious daughter Ashley will return to YWAM the beginning of Sept. for phase II of there program. God truly moves through our young people.....and it's so encouraging, and challenging to see and hear all that God does.
Kiim~
This is just great. God bless David.
You are doing a great job raising your kids, even ven the going is tough.You are teaching them to share in the needs of others.
love
I love how God continues to show us things by melting our very own hearts. To be reminded that He loves each one of us and created each one of us, even those that are't the easiest to love and be kind to.
Thank You Lord for these tests that You use to show Yourself STRONG.
Love to you, Sheryl!
Yolanda
Just beautiful!
I've always loved that verse, too. I do hope that your son experiences God on this trip like never before! May you and he both be blessed!
Rebecca
What powerful words Sheryl. I will keep your son in my prayers.
Thank you for showing your faith so openly. You continue to inspire me.
OK Sheryl,
Something is going on here. I feel like we have a GOD/ Rod Serling(Twilight Zone) communication going. Today's sermon was about Moses and how he told GOD he could not go to Egypt and free God's people. Even though it was God's plan and He gave Moses all kinds of signs (Exodus 3 and 4). Moses did not think he could do it. I thought about your writing. If it is God's plan, He will do the hard part. He just wants you to start. Please don't take this the wrong way. With all that is going on in your life it seems crazy to take a leap of faith and start something new. But I know from reading your comments and postings and from reading what others have said about your words that writing/ communicating is a gift you have. I get a weekly email from Upwards at MaxLucado.com and today's was entitled In God We (Nearly) Trust.It spoke to me and you may find it interesting if you can find it. If not, send me your email and I'll forward it to you. Blessings, LINDA
Still praying Sheryl, still praying!!
In His Graces~Pamela
Dear Sheryl,
Oh, I'm just thrilled to read about your son's mission trip. Truly this will be a life~changing experience.
Everyone needs to experience at least ONE in their lifetime!!
I continue to pray for you, and I see my prayers being answered each time I read your posts.
You are just looking more and more like Jesus, and yes, I know He is truly WELL-PLEASED when he looks into your heart.
Keep reaching out for HIM, He's there, and He loves the way you are depending on Him now.
Blessings to you my friend,
Susan
Sheryl,
I feel like I haven't had the chance to visit my bloggy friends in so long. Your writing has just grown by leaps and bounds.
What a blessing your words are to so many people. Let me be the first to give you a hug and say well done my friend. Even through the heartaches you have recently had to endure His love has been the constand light in the darkness.
Your son David will come home and be an added blessing just for having served in Mexico. I will pray for him today.
Blessings, Joanne
Sheryl,
You just posted on my blog. I wanted to thank you for your kind comments. It is just what I needed to hear. As for knowing how to get started, all I can say is you just start, just write what you love and submit. There are wonderful books on freelance writing available and the website for Writer's Market is an excellent source, www.writersmarket.com. Good luck and keep me posted! I'll be praying for you.
Julie Anna
How exciting to see your son doing God's work. May he come back home nothing like the way he left!!
Thanks for your encouragement about my daughter.
God is just beyond good isn't He??? :)
Blessings,
Lelia
Sweet Sheryl,
I'm praying David's experience will be life-changing - for him AND for those to whom he ministers.
Thinking about how much you love David and want the very best for him... God loves YOU that much and so much more. While He hurts when you hurt, He can see the product of the pain that you cannot yet see. I believe it will be beautiful, and I continue praying for you regularly.
Blessings!
What a beautiful post! Definitely sending a prayer for the safety of your son! Wow, after reading about Him, you are indeed blessed. = )
I will be keeping David in my prayers. He sounds like a remarkable young man. I'm praying that He will experience God like he never has before. What a blessing it is when youth go on these mission trips and see those who are in such poverty.
You are in my prayers as well!
Love,
Valerie
Wow, Sheryl. I am so blessed by you. You are walking out this journey with much faith...and a soft heart towards God. I love that.
I am so thankful for the opportunity to know you better today...thankful for this Siesta-hood, which brought me to you. May I pray for you?
Father, I lift up Sheryl to You this day...for her circumstances, her family and her life. You come to bring life to the full. Bring it to Sheryl. I pray that you would confound the doctors at just the right hour. Until then, I pray that on this perch, You would bend down to feed my Sister and sustain her with fullness of joy.
In Jesus' Name-
Amen.
Much love to you!
holly
What a beautiful post for your son!
I'll be praying for him too Sheryl.
What an amazing young man for the kingdom.
I'll get caught up on your blog now.
You are such a blessing~
Fran
Sheryl, you have quite a way with words, expressing a deep faith and an honest pain.
Thanks for visiting my blog - I responded to your comment, my heart just jumped right out of me when I read what you wrote and absolutely understood what you meant, and even thought those very thoughts as I wrote the post... so if you get a chance, go read my comment after your comment :)
Nice to meet you, you really have such and honest and beautiful heart.
I'm praying for David, sweet friend! You must be SO proud of him!
Much love to you tonight!
I've missed you!
Angie xoxo
Hey Midnight Buddy,
Just sending up prayers for David and you this am. I has been a sheer priviledge to have met you through the computer. I think you called it imaginary friends---You are truly a blessing to me!! Kim
Sheryl,
How awesome that David is spending this time this summer working for the Lord. You have every right to be thrilled. He is doing God's work. I'll keep him in my prayers along with you; well you and your family.
Trials are very difficult. But, it is something that we must endure here. You are so correct, after it is all said and done the end results will be magnificent.
Be blessed my sweet friend,
Cheryl
Hey Sheryl,
How are you doing with your son being out of town? I know that when my kids are out of town I miss them terribly. Praying everything is going well for him there and for you at home!
Love,
Suzanne :)
Amen, Sweet Sheryl, Amen!!
What a great adventure David is about to embark on!! I will keep him and those going with him, in my prayers...
I am still praying for you and do so appreciate your kind words in your recent email!!
GOD IS GREAT, and there is no one like Him... keep BELIEVING GOD!!
LOVE YOU!!
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