Sometimes I wonder

Sometimes, at my low points, I wonder how our life would be different had we not moved here. It is times like today, when all my family and church friends are getting together to celebrate Easter, dressed in their finest, worshiping at church and then getting together with family to eat and to hunt Easter eggs. I miss this. I also miss it for my kids, which is usually why I begin to wonder…

and then I realize… yes my life would be different… Very, very different but not better. Yes, my kids didn’t have a traditional Easter egg hunt (although we did attempt to bring this tradition to Honduras), no one was in their Easter clothes, no hymns or worship songs were sang and no chocolate bunnies were eaten much to Emma’s dismay. But still, my life would not have been better. While I grieve some of the traditions and experiences that my kids miss out on, I am certain that they are growing in ways that they would not have grown otherwise. They see people who have nothing and know they want to help. Their eyes have been opened to see the needs of people. They have given out of their own pockets to help friends in need. They have cleaned their closet’s out to give to kids who have no clothes. They have carried food into houses that otherwise had nothing. They have learned to be satisfied with far less than most kids their age. More importantly, they have learned what is really important in life…to serve their Father.  They go to church to serve, often helping me get together the craft or activity for their friends. They go because they want to learn more about the Bible, not because of the fun they may have. They pray without being prompted and have taught their younger sister to do the same. They have seen prayers answered in little and big ways (see note below). So, yes, our lives would be different. We would have electricity and running water 100% of the time, we would have Easter baskets and eat chocolate bunnies and we would get together with family. We would sit in a church and sing the songs that I miss so much but then again… perhaps we would just be doing that. Sitting in a church. Not serving. Not growing. Not learning to see the needs of others. Yes, our life would be different…but certainly not better.

*Our water came back on for good hours after I posted the last blog and I firmly believe it was due to your prayers!

** Also, as a side note, I must say I am so very thankful for the teachers who pour into my kids lives teaching them about Christ and about loving people.