"Do Great Things for God Today"

"For everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything is for his glory." (Romans 11:36)

Last weekend, my sister and I went on my first trip to the beautiful city of San Diego, where we attended our company's Western Regional Meeting. It was my first time to be away from the kids while they had school. I've attended out-of-state company meetings before, but that was when they were still in preschool. Somehow it was easier to just leave them under the care of their grandparents and call it a mini-vacation. They could still miss a few days from preschool.

Last year, I didn't attend the meetings because Edison still went to night school. I couldn't even bring myself to think about planning and coordinating the kids' and the grandparents' schedules. When Edison finished his classes in December, I felt like I could probably consider going to San Diego.

I needed the training.

I haven't been to San Diego.

(But I would miss my husband and kids.) It's only for a couple of days!

Wow! Does this mean I get to read a book for long stretches of time - at the airport, in the plane, in between sessions? No guilt of choosing: to be engulfed by the world of the characters, or to do the laundry and the dishes? I'd be lost in the words of love and adventure between the hero and the heroine... a break from the constant bickering of my 8-year old boy and 6-year old girl about who gets to go first at everything...

What a tempting idea!

I must admit that there have been times - in this most wonderful yet ever so challenging role as a mother - when I felt like I just wanna close my eyes and be transported to a deserted beach... just a beach chair, a couple of margaritas, a Nicholas Sparks novel...

And me...

In my sarong and hat... soaking up the glorious sun, inhaling the fresh ocean breeze, feeling the amazing sand in my toes... enjoying God's great love!

In my "happy place," I get a break without having to think if the kids have been bathed and fed, if the house is sparkling clean, if the bills have all been paid. Magically, everything's perfect and I just close my eyes, and POOF! I'm at the beach!

I wish!

And then I think about my poor mom, who never took a break... I wonder if she ever felt this way when she was raising us? I think about her constant reminder, "This too shall pass."

She's been right.

The 2 am feedings and round the clock diaper change DID pass.

The kids' first smile, first step, first word DID pass.

The first day of school, the first book they ever read all by themselves, the first performance DID pass.

"This too shall pass" - this gives me the courage to snap out of my wishful thinking and simply immerse in the present - no matter how crazy and chaotic - for I shall not pass this way, this moment again.

And now, I get this opportunity to go on a break - work training really, but I do get a break from the day to day gruel of it all! Once I got the support of my husband - God bless his heart - that he will take care of everything at home while I'm away, I grabbed the opportunity! (I left on Saturday morning and would not be back until Tuesday evening.)

On Monday morning, I spoke on the phone with Edward and Alison. Before hanging up, I told both of them,"Okay, I'll talk to you again tonight. Do great things for God today. I love you. Bye."

Do great things for God today.

That's what I tell them everyday as we drop them off to school. I tell them, "How do you do great things for God today?" I then incorporate Holy Angels School's standards," You do your best quality work, follow directions, and participate in class - that's how."

Do great things for God today.

Whether I say it to the kids in the car or over the phone, the message is still the same. That's when I realized that this break was a badge of honor - that maybe I deserved the break because I have done my best to set systems at home: our regular rhythym of things (such as our "Good Morning, Baby Holy Angels!" schedule, and our "Good Night, Baby Holy Angels!" schedule that evolved from our "10 Minutes to Bedtime" routine), our family guidelines, and of course, our daily game plan:

DO GREAT THINGS FOR GOD TODAY!

So much inspired by our Family Mission Statement, what Edison and I want our children to become: responsible, happy, and passionate individuals... serving God and others. In my "happier place," Edward and Alison are healthy, self-sufficient adults, who continue to do their best quality work in whatever they are passionate about; law-abiding citizens, who give back and participate actively in their community and the world; simply happy and enjoying a close relationship with God.

Of course in my "happiest place," the kids are all of that... and I'm at the beach... with Edison. :)

Dear Lord, Thank You for the gift of parenting, for I am driven to become a better person in order to set a good example for Edward and Alison. I continue to be inspired do great things for You everyday, too. Everything is for Your glory! Amen.