I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want to share in my blog… and I decided it would be best to write about what I’m struggling with/working on/challenged by right now.
To begin I need to share a little bit of personal information. I have one sister. She is four years older then me, and we didn’t get along at all until she went to college. That was years ago and now we’re pretty close friends. She has been married for about five years now. About a month ago I found out that she’s pregnant! The Baby is due November 30th. I’m totally excited, I will be an aunt for the first time!!!!
However, I always thought I would be with her when she had a baby and as all of you know we will be in
Mexico. To be honest I’m kind of disappointed that I will not be there when the baby is actually born, and that I will be gone for a lot of its first year.
About the same time that I got this news my mom sent me an email with some verses to think about while preparing for and being on a longer mission. One of these verses is Luke 9:57-62…
The Cost of Following Jesus
57As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
58Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
59He said to another man, “Follow me.”
But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
60Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the
kingdom of
God.”
61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.”
62Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the
kingdom of
God.”
The way I see it, we are all going to have things, people, and events happening at home that we don’t want to miss. But perhaps that is the cost of following Jesus…. I don’t think that God is asking us to forget about our family and friends, but rather to not “look back” or regret what it is we are missing, but instead to focus on the work He has laid out for us to do.
We are being given an amazing opportunity to go and serve, to give our all, to spend every day with one purpose; to serve God. We will be surrounded by others with the same goal; giving each other support and strength. This is not something that everyone has the chance to experience.
My challenge to everyone, and especially myself, is to go and not look back.
If any of you have feedback on this topic I would love to hear it. I do not claim to know it all, and I would like begin learning from all of you. Please do not hesitate to challenge anything I have said.
Wow…I totally agree with you. I hadn’t really thought of that until you brought it up, but so many things have been going through my head. I’m excited to go, but at the same time I can’t help but think about the things I will miss out on while we are gone. Those verses are really encouraging/challenging, too. I know that God has an amazing plan, and we’ll never truly “miss out” when we follow where He leads. Can’t wait to get to know you better 😉
Hey…thanks for the encouragement. I was having similar struggles – I get afraid of leaving my sisters and nephews and niece…like they’re going to forget me or something. haha You are absolutely right though – with the call comes sacrifice and what an opportunity we do have.
What a great blog. I will be anxious to hear how your adventure goes.
About the baby…don’t worry. You will have lots of time to bond and interact with Baby Miller when you return. At that time the baby will be make connections with you and will remember you. You will be a great aunt! You may want to check out an on-line video service such as Skype. We are just starting to use this with our family.
My dad’s sister lived in Hawaii all my life. I have seen her maybe a dozen times in 25 years and we are are close. She puts a lot of effort into communicating through post cards and sending fun gifts from far off places.
tammy! i am so very proud of you darling! i had no idea that you were leaving on a long terms missions trip!? mexico you say and a year?
my sister too just had her first baby about 3 months ago. i was unable to be there but visited for about two weeks. after being with him and her it grew difficult leaving. even more so is tricia’s and my story similar to you and your sis. tricia and i didnt even have a relationship really till i left for seattle and started talking more; i relate totally. the verses your mother sent were appropriate eh? and on time..He seems to work like that. it should encourage you to know that He understands your needs before you do, and meets them accordingly. that is awesome to here about mexico. please let me know much more and if you still need support of finances..other than prayer. i would be glad to help any way i can. i too am possibly leaving for ireland in janruary of this year. im definatly in a waiting season here with God in seattle and having to seek, trust and wait. dont get discouraged tammy…you may not know everything, but you do enough and He will work the rest. keep in touch please!!! i have face book as well. blessings and love
linsey
Thanks so much Tamara for sharing this with us!! It’s so amazing! this passage was this week’s passage at Church! And just as it was for you a challenge and encouragement, it was for me too,and gave me sooooooo much excitement to really give up on everything for the Lord if that would be the case…I am so much looking forward to see you face to face and to get to know each other better and to serve together!