Our Prayer

In August of this year, our 4^th daughter launched into her own life which left 2 daughters of our six still at home.  When we bought our house with 6 bedrooms, we always envisioned it with all rooms filled.  Our younger girls share a room.  It is their choice and we support it because even though we have an occasional argument, they love each others company and support.  So when Melly left, we asked God how he wanted us to use our empty bedrooms to His glory.  I know, if any of you have prayed a similar prayer—beware because God has a sense of humor.  And He will respond.  And He will stretch you.  He will grow you, amaze you, humble you and test your ability to obey His word.

His first answer was easy.  My cousin and his wife were moving to Houston and needed a place to stay for a couple of weeks as they searched for a prospective home.  It was easy and we had fun.  

 The next answer was even easier.  God sent us our favorite missionary from Peru—she needed a place to stay for a few days before she could return to her mission field with a permanent visa.  She is always a joy to spend time with and we came away from that encouraged and uplifted.

Then came a long term guest. A good friend moved from east Texas to come and work with us in our business.  This one came with some adjustment.  He is used to living alone and not having the hustle and bustle of a busy household but we have adjusted and so we have only 3 more rooms to fill.

Around the same time, our grown daughter living in Houston asked if she could home and live with us every other week as her husband began a job out of town every other week.  That presented a few more challenges.  Your grown children come back home and the role is all different and you have to see them in a different light and they have to see you in a new way.  The biggest challenge came in the form of a 10lb ball of fur.  I confess, I love my granddog.  But……he is a puppy.  He has puppy behaviors.  And I am a built in babysitter for him while my daughter maintains her busy life of school and 2 jobs.  Lively and active, he likes to jump on furniture, bark incessantly at the wind, and shred any type of paper he can get his little paws on.  But we have worked through it and have established a rhythm that works for us all.  I don’t cook tater tot casserole while she is here and she stays out of our way while we homeschool.  

But the next answer has been easy and difficult.   A friend of a friend needed help.  He has a brain tumor.  His wife is pregnant.  They have a 2 year old.  His mother came with him.  So we filled some more rooms and learned to love people in a crisis.  They are here because they live in Alaska and this is his 2^nd brain tumor and he needed specialized medical care that can be found here in Houston.  The easy part is you fall in love and they feel like our own family rather quickly.  The difficulty comes in as we begin to love them and share their pain and struggles.  And that is hard.  But worth it.

And all of this time, God is still working on our hearts to fill our rooms.  It came in the form of a file 2 inches thick of paperwork.  Paperwork delving into every aspect of our lives.  Paperwork to become foster parents.   I know—crazy right?  I talked to a friend the other day and discussed my dilemma of my empty rooms and how to fill them and she said I should sell the house and downsize.  That sounds very appealing to me…….. But that is not the plan.  So here I sit in front of piles of papers and try to envision what is coming around the corner.  Is it a single child that needs a home for a short time?  A sibling group that needs us for a longer term?  A pregnant teenager needing support and guidance.

 And the questions.  Can we do this?   Are we equipped?  Are we enough?  Are we too old?  Maybe this is meant for a younger crowd.  Are you sure this is what you want from us God because that pile of papers looks awfully tall and intimidating.  And don’t know if I can do this.

I walked through my house today and prayed over the rooms.  I do not know what the future holds for each of them but I will keep praying.  God, show me how to use the rooms of this home to bring you glory.  But more than that, equip us.  Give us the tools.  Show us how to trust You in every step.  And show us who needs to fill these rooms.