That little tug

Hey there blogger friends! Don't be mad at me okay? Yes, I realize it has been over a week since my last post. It has been crazy! I'm getting ready for finals, going on job interviews, playing referee for the kids, getting ready physically and spiritually for the mission trip coming up, and trying to keep my house from looking like a disaster area. Oh yeah, and I forgot to mention trying to walk my booty off. I've been getting better at it, but I am sad to report that my booty is still there. Oh well, you win some, you lose some. At least I am following through with my commitment to get on the treadmill every day.

The good part about me having had this prolonged absence is that I have quite a bit to blog about. Oh yeah, my kids have been real busy driving me crazy lately! My crazy trio definitely keeps me hopping! I don't know what I would do without them. Well, I could sleep in, have a meal without cutting someone else's food, and not find random things like the remote in the fridge. Wait, that actually sounds kind of boring!

On Saturday, there was a Christian hip hop concert here in town. It was a great opportunity to go see a concert together as a family. And, it was free....one of my all-time favorite words! I wasn't sure what to expect. It has been a long time since I have listened to any rap. When we got there we saw there were quite a few people there that we knew. We went and sat down by our friends and waited for the concert to start. The first artist came on the stage and the DJ was getting everyone pumped up. People started to get out of their seats and were standing close to the stage. These rappers were the real deal. Like my friends said, "They have been there, done that, and bought the tee shirt." They were rapping like crazy and preaching the word at the same time. It was amazing!

My 6 year old son sat back in the bleachers by our friends. It was too loud for him. My daughter, my youngest son, and I went up closer to the stage. She was getting frustrated because she couldn't see so she asked if she could find a place in the very front. I told her to go for it so she did. She weaseled her way all the way to the edge of the stage. She could have reached out and touched every rapper on the stage. She was waving her hands around and having a great time! I should explain something here. My daughter was not at all dressed like a typical rap groupie. She was wearing her glasses that are purple with butterflies on the side, her pink headband with her big pink bow on it, a pink and white shirt with little ruffles on it and it tied in the back, solid pink Capri's, and her white and pink tennis shoes that laced up almost to her knees. And here she was, at the front of the crowd, enjoying the heck out of the music. So cute and funny to see!

I didn't want to be right up front there with all the teeny boppers, so I was a few feet back. I was having a great time, dancing around. Not a lot of people were, but I didn't care. I was having fun! My youngest son wasn't happy about being there at all. He didn't want to sit with our friends, but he wasn't thrilled about being that close to the stage either. The only thing he knew for sure was that he was not letting me out of his sight. He was being grumpy and wanted me to hold him. Now, he is a heavy sack of taters so that didn't last long. He got tired of standing in front of me so he sat down, right in the middle of the crowd. He was right in between my feet so every time I moved around while I was dancing, his head would bop my knees. He was swaying back and forth. To the untrained eye, it looked he was doing a little dance. But when you got a little closer and saw his scowl, you knew better. When people we knew would walk by me and see him they would start giggling. They would try to tell him "Hi" and he would just stare at them. They would say, "What is the matter with him?" I responded with, "He is on duty. He's my bodyguard tonight. I know he looks harmless, but don't touch me. I'm just saying...." And we would have a good laugh over it.

At the end of the concert they had an alter call. Quite a few people gave their lives over to God that night. I was such an inspiration to see! We sat on the sidelines and watched. Afterwards, people were going up on stage to get prayed for. It was mostly for the people that had just accepted Christ as their Savior. My daughter came up to me and said, "Mom, I want to have them pray for me." This is a new thing. My daughter is usually very shy around guys. She has been through a lot and seen more than any child should. She saw me get abused so she is very cautious around guys. That's why I looked so surprised when I responded, "Why? What do you want them to pray for you about?" She wouldn't tell me, but she was very insistent about going up there. She didn't want to go by herself. She was not giving up so I got up and let her lead me to the stage while the boys sat with our friends.

We walked up the steps. The guy that was not occupied with someone, was the DJ. This guy was a big to me, so he must have been huge to my daughter. He was dark and had tattoos and earrings and was wearing mostly black with a hat on. And here is my little redhead in all her pink glory, standing before him. He looked at us both and seemed to be confused. He could tell that we were not there to be led to God. I finally spoke up since my daughter was temporarily speechless. "This is my daughter. She would like you to pray for her." He looked at her, looked at me, and still looked confused. "What does she want prayer for?" I shrugged and looked at my daughter. She looked up at him and said very quietly, "I want a Daddy." There was a myriad of emotions playing across his face. He looked at me for an explanation. I said, "It's complicated. She currently has a PFA against her Dad and she doesn't see him. She has been praying and asking for a Daddy for her and a husband for me." I was tearing up as I explained. This mans face fell and he took a full step back from us. He started weeping. He stepped back up to us and put one hand on my daughters shoulder and one hand on mine. His face was turned up to the ceiling and he started crying out, "Father, Father, this child needs a Daddy. This woman needs a Godly husband. They are hurting, Father." I was sobbing, the DJ was weeping, and my daughter is standing there, calmly looking at us both. I don't even remember all that he said. After he was done praying, he hugged us both.

I don't know what went through his mind as she innocently requested that he pray for her Daddy to come. I don't know why she was so determined to have this man pray for her. What I do know, is that is one of my proudest moments as a Mom. My beautiful, wonderful, courageous daughter swallowed her fear because she felt she was supposed to do something. She felt the tug, and she responded. Even though her own Mom was discouraging her to do it. And guys, she is only 9 years old. I made sure and told her how proud I was of her. She acted like it was no big deal. But it is a huge deal!

I think from time to time all of us feel the tug to do something. Most people can't define it. I can. That's the Holy Spirit trying to guide you. It's so hard to be obedient sometimes. Especially when it could possibly take you outside your comfort zone. But here is what I do know..... you don't know what it could mean to someone else for you to respond to the tug. It could really impact someones life. I have no clue what my daughter's words meant for that man. It could have been a turning point in his walk in faith.

It is such an incredible experience when you leave yourself open to be used for God's purposes. It's not always an easy thing to do, but I really feel that it's necessary. Can't do it, you say? You can't put yourself out there like that? I feel the same way sometimes. However, this is how I am coming to look at it now. If my little girl can do it, we can. Remember, God can and will use you wherever you are. All you have to do is let Him in. Invite Him to guide your steps. You have the opportunity to help your Savior impact someones life today. How amazing is that?!

Thank you God for speaking to my daughter. Thank you for guiding her steps and giving her an obedient heart. Well, at least when it comes to You...heehee. I am so blessed to have children that inspire me. You truly gave me a wondrous gift when You chose me to be her mother. Thank you Lord for being a Father to the Fatherless! My child does not lack a Daddy. She has the best Daddy in the world! I have faith that when the time is right, You will choose an amazing earthly father for her. A father that will protect and guide her and love her like the princess she is. Thank you for keeping us in the palm of your hand.