To See His Winks

Commit to The Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3

I’d be willing to bet that you have wondered a time or two, or a million, if you were doing things right as a mom. Man, I have. And sometimes I still wonder.

Twenty years ago, when we were called and notified that the birth mother of our oldest daughter was in labor, I fell to my knees at that moment and promised God that I would raise her to know, love and follow Him if we were able to bring her home as ours. This was a big promise I made. He granted our petition, and I have been doing my best to do what I told Him I would do….with both of our daughters. Twenty years of commitment to this promise. It hasn’t all been pretty. I wasn’t raised in a Godly home and had no idea how to do it on my own. I’m so glad I didn’t have to, and that you don’t either.

This thing is hard ya’ll. Even as I sit down to write this, my youngest literally just announced that she chose a college to attend next year. I found myself in tears this morning wondering, did I do it right? Did I say enough? Did I teach her enough? Did I model a love for Jesus? She’s leaving in just under 8 months…

But then I received a wink from The Lord. My oldest daughter called from college saying how excited she was to come home for the holidays…how much she looked forward to our fireside talks, games and home cooking. She WANTS to come home. He winked. I received it. How much more could you want than a child that wants to come back home?

My heart's desire is that we all learn to pick up on these “winks” from The Lord this season. As I’m writing, I am reflecting on the fact that my children love being home, love God, prioritize worship and The Word of God. They love one another and invest in their own relationship. They are good friends to others and love people.

These are winks and evidence that, with His leading, we have done the things…not perfectly, but we have done them.

Want to take this thought process into the Christmas season with me? I wonder if we all need to relax some and not spend so much time worrying about how we may fall short, what we haven’t done perfectly or what we could do to make things perfect? Instead, let’s ask the Lord for His help to do and be just what He wants us to do and be inside our homes. Let’s be present and watch for the “winks” from Him. Let’s be light in our homes and not doubt that we have what it takes to do it. The winks are all around us if we will be still and quiet long enough to be aware of them.

Happy Christmas ya’ll…may your home be “well lit” this season!

- Jennifer McClure