I am not the adventurous type. I enjoy wearing grooves in my life
so that I can comfortably travel familiar terrain without incident. I love
ritual and tradition.
I spent the first half (OK maybe, two-thirds) of my life as a perfectionistic over-achiever. And then I got married. To an artist. And then I had kids. And then I just couldn't be that person anymore. Something had to change.
God had given me eyes to see and ears to hear how this life with this man could take shape; however, my head still tried to intervene. He’s an artist. Who will support the children? He’s terrible with money. We’ll be in financial ruin. Where will we live? What will we drive? What will my parents think?
And, oh, isn’t there something about having children that bubbles up all that stuff that needs to be dealt with? There’s just something about those little lives nestled up to ours that sends us clinging to our heavenly Father for dear life.
During this time, I was forced to give up everything I was doing beyond the most basic self-care for me, caring for the baby, and making it to and from work in once piece. I could no longer look to my accomplishments for my self worth. God taught me about being vs. doing. He taught me that I was enough, and that I didn't have to prove myself to Him.
What does this have to do with prayer, or Kenya Children's Fund, you might ask? As I left everything else behind, the only thing I gave myself permission to pursue with abandon was God, and a relationship with him that grew in those quiet "being" moments through prayer.
That season brought out “stuff” that I needed to confront. And it has changed who I am today. It is still difficult for me to discern what types of things to take on, and it is important for me to feel like I am investing myself in areas where God is at work and where there will be value in me joining Him.
Kenya Children's Fund is one of those places where I see God at work, and where He has, for some reason, asked me to join Him. I don't always get to see the full picture or know the full story, but I see enough important connections to step out of my comfort zone and do the things He asks of me, which is sometimes "just" to be there or "just" to pray--small things that become laden with import at God's initiative.
Prayer is the beginning of so many good and important things that happen. We can't jump in and do without first seeking God in prayer. We follow Jesus' example of how he prayed for his followers before his death, how he shared honestly in prayer with his Father, how his prayer to see God's kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven is also our prayer.
The children of Dandora are God's children. He intends to take care of them. But He intends for us to join him in sharing His love with them through our imperfection, our tears, our prayers. Won't you join me in praying for God's precious ones in Dandora?
I spent the first half (OK maybe, two-thirds) of my life as a perfectionistic over-achiever. And then I got married. To an artist. And then I had kids. And then I just couldn't be that person anymore. Something had to change.
God had given me eyes to see and ears to hear how this life with this man could take shape; however, my head still tried to intervene. He’s an artist. Who will support the children? He’s terrible with money. We’ll be in financial ruin. Where will we live? What will we drive? What will my parents think?
And, oh, isn’t there something about having children that bubbles up all that stuff that needs to be dealt with? There’s just something about those little lives nestled up to ours that sends us clinging to our heavenly Father for dear life.
During this time, I was forced to give up everything I was doing beyond the most basic self-care for me, caring for the baby, and making it to and from work in once piece. I could no longer look to my accomplishments for my self worth. God taught me about being vs. doing. He taught me that I was enough, and that I didn't have to prove myself to Him.
What does this have to do with prayer, or Kenya Children's Fund, you might ask? As I left everything else behind, the only thing I gave myself permission to pursue with abandon was God, and a relationship with him that grew in those quiet "being" moments through prayer.
That season brought out “stuff” that I needed to confront. And it has changed who I am today. It is still difficult for me to discern what types of things to take on, and it is important for me to feel like I am investing myself in areas where God is at work and where there will be value in me joining Him.
Kenya Children's Fund is one of those places where I see God at work, and where He has, for some reason, asked me to join Him. I don't always get to see the full picture or know the full story, but I see enough important connections to step out of my comfort zone and do the things He asks of me, which is sometimes "just" to be there or "just" to pray--small things that become laden with import at God's initiative.
Prayer is the beginning of so many good and important things that happen. We can't jump in and do without first seeking God in prayer. We follow Jesus' example of how he prayed for his followers before his death, how he shared honestly in prayer with his Father, how his prayer to see God's kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven is also our prayer.
The children of Dandora are God's children. He intends to take care of them. But He intends for us to join him in sharing His love with them through our imperfection, our tears, our prayers. Won't you join me in praying for God's precious ones in Dandora?
Elaine Powell Hooker, KCF Prayer Coordinator
