Field of Daisies

Zach

Our twelve-year-old son Zach is gone to church camp this week with over 200 other kids from our church, plus an unknown number from another church from Arkansas.... It's his first full week away from home. He's been to camp a few times before, but the longest he's been gone is three nights. He will be gone four nights this week...and I sure am missing him!

Zach is a great kid; fun to be with; easy to talk to. And he's a big help around the house. He picks up the dog toys for me without having to be asked. He empties the dishwasher and entertains his sister much of the time. (I think she has really missed him this week too!) He loves to play games and he still likes being with his mom and dad... Now that's something!

I miss his hugs too...and his laugh. (He has a great laugh!)

This photo is kind of dark, but perhaps you can still
catch a glimpse of a smiling, happy kid.... That's
our Zach!

We were planning to drive down to Camp WOW tonight for Parent Night, but I don't know if Joel is up to it. (He's been fighting a nasty upper respiratory condition this past week.) But Zach is scheduled to be home tomorrow, so even if we don't drive down there, I'll see him soon.

I'm hoping this week has been good for him. I hope he's making new friends and deepening his relationships with existing friends. I hope he's trying new things, venturing out a bit, and I hope he's laughing a lot. But most of all I hope and pray this week will be a spiritual marker in his walk with God. Zach has a wonderful heart and he knows a lot about spiritual things. My desire is to see him invest more of himself in his relationship with God; draw closer to God; for God to become more real to him.

The world we live in today is pretty brutal. Our children need to be firmly grounded in their relationship with the Lord. That is the only thing that will see them through all the difficulties and temptations that lay ahead. As for Zach, I think God has big plans for him, so truly I'm not worried about him. I just want the very best for him--just as God does. I know He loves him even more than I do. I guess my part is just to watch and pray and wait--and pray some more.... I have a feeling I'm going to have lots of opportunities to practice that particular parenting skill in the coming years....