St. Patrick, The Return, Part 5

Warriors Arise: March 18, 2022

Luke 2:17-19 (NASB) When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.

Patrick eventually returned to his family in Great Britain. His parents begged him to never leave them again, but the religious visions returned and presented Patrick with a different plan. (HISTORY)

I have known since my oldest was in 7th grade she would be involved in overseas ministry. I have shared a number of times of her desire to serve God in foreign in countries. She and I have talked several times of how to prepare for such a calling. However, as much as I know in my heart and mind this is what she is to do, something hit two weeks ago when we were on the weekly zoom. She currently, is on a 9 month mission trip in Guatemala. As circumstances would have it, I did not get to go for parent week. My youngest, Charis took my place and went with my husband. This was of the Lord. He ordains out steps and He protects each one of us. I trust God to open doors that I am to step through and close the ones that are not his doorway for me. I couldn't be more delighted with how the trip went for Scott and Charis as they joined Abigail in ministry for a week.

When I realized I would not be able to go, I asked Scott to contact the ministry to find out exactly when Abigail we return home. I want to have everything ready for her return. I want to make sure we have set aside specific family time with her. While in Guatemala, Scott was to be working with Abigail to fill out applications for full time ministry opportunities. She has no intention of returning to college for an unnecessary degree. In the future she may return to college if the ministry she is involved in desires for her to get a specific degree but most ministries want you to learn their way.

Two weeks ago, Abigail shared and there was a shift in my reality. Even though I knew all along she would be serving overseas with the Lord, I had not comprehended the reality. I was the one who encouraged her to get on an overseas ministry to see if she could handle being in a place where she didn't know the language, culture or people. I wanted her to know if she could handle being in that situation and grow. I didn't want her to get into the situation and then realize she couldn't handle it on a full time basis. My dad told me of a student of his who went with his anatomy group on a trip to where they watched a surgery taking place and there was a student in the classroom wanted to be a surgeon. They couldn't wait to watch it in real person. But when the doctor cut into the person and blood spirt out of their body, the student fainted. On the ride home, the student told my dad, "I don't think surgery is for me." I have always remembered my dad sharing this. I am sure it had an impact on my encouragement for Abigail to go on an overseas mission trip. She needed to know if she could really handle being in that situation, the difference in culture and the responsibilities involved with it.

I can totally understand the plea of Patrick's parents. How many days had his parents prayed for his return not knowing if he was still alive? How many nights did his mother shed tears for her son as she prayed God would bring him back to her? Now that Patrick is home and they have heard the horrible circumstances of his slavery, I can imagine they don't want him out of their sight, to travel anywhere near the coast and definitely not going outside of their territory. Several historians say they begged him to never to leave. That is a bold request. Upon his return he has to be 22 years old or older. Many things have changed for him. He has lived the scariest life he could have imagined. He had survived unbeatable odds. He has prayed to God and He heard his prayers. He has learned the voice of God. He has followed the direction of God. It is God who brought him home. One cannot help but to have a paradigm shift. He views life completely different. What he has been through can't fit into the nice, neat little box anymore.

I have been the one encouraging Abigail to take hold of the overseas mission opportunity from the time she left for college. I told her she needed to be on an overseas mission trip before her junior year of college started. I was thinking of overseas studies or mission trip for 6-8 weeks. Instead, God opened the door for the nine month mission program. We have had the luxury of speaking to her almost every week. I realize this may not be the case in future mission opportunities. Nor will we know how long she will be gone. Nor will we know if we will be able to visit her on the mission field. These are all unknowns, but I trust the One who knows. I trust God to open doors no man can shut and shut doors no man can open.

Isaiah 22:22-23 (NKJV)

The key of the house of David

I will lay on his shoulder;

So he shall open, and no one shall shut;

And he shall shut, and no one shall open.

23 I will fasten him as a peg in a secure place,

In the call, FaceTime, two weeks ago, Abigail shared her plan to return home, get a full time job and a part time job to pay off her college loans so she could return to the mission field as soon as possible. She found two ministries in Guatemala that have paid positions. Not enough to pay her college loans but enough to live on while working there. One of them is working with children who have disabilities another one is building houses. I could see on her face a shift. She wasn't coming back. Things would never be the same. She would not be able to fit back into the box of what we used to know as our family. I knew this would happen. I figured it would happen when she went to college but we were able to keep her involved with the family and with the pandemic, she had returned home and taken classes virtually. So, the launch was only a test run, but now the real deal. Now, her heart is passionate about missions in a way that she is marked. Her paradigm has shifted. When she returns, I must be prepared to equip her to follow God as He opens doors to the mission field full time. I must make sure I do not allow my selfish desires handicap her in any way. I must not speak words of discouragement, because as her mother, I want her to be close, at least close enough I can travel in a reasonable time. I must not be the cause of her to doubt the calling God has upon her life for my own selfish needs to be satisfied. When my flesh rises up, I must be strong enough in the Lord to know He has created her for this. I must encourage her to go and do as the Lord directs. I must believe God will protect her, guide her, and provide for her everywhere He calls her to go and do and be the gospel.

As I listened and watched her share with me of the two ministries. I knew she had a paradigm shift. I knew home would always be somewhere else. This home, would only be a place of memories and where she would receive rest, support, and love to return to her calling. This would no longer be her place of establishment. Her tent pegs are expanding and her calling is elsewhere and I will not be a hinderance to call of God upon her life. I will support her and prepare her as the Lord directs.

As parents, as spouses, we have to search our hearts. We have to allow God to show us if we have allowed our own selfish desires to hold our children back from seeking after God and following his plan for their life. We have to ask ourselves have we been a part of preparing them to hear God and align their decision with the calling He has placed within them. As parents, God has given us responsibility to prepare our children not just for the "real" world, but to teach each one of them to have a tangible relationship with God, know what He has called them to do, hear His voice, and follow Him. There is so much more to our children's lives than the 18 or so years they spend in our home. We are to prepare them to launch into God's will for their lives not hold them back from it. These same things we apply to our spouse as well. Out of our insecurities rooted in fear and selfishness, we are not to withhold God's opportunities for them to follow their calling. We are to encourage, support, and love them as they embrace what God has called them to do. We are to join them in their calling as well as step into our calling. God has us put together so we honor the gifts and calling within each other but also to enhance each one to walk in their calling to their full potential as well as support one another. God is so very good. His love is amazing. We can trust God to open doors that no man can shut and shut doors that no man can open.

Father, this isn't easy but it is necessary. I want to honor the gifts and calling you have upon my children. I bless the calling upon their lives. They seem so big and grand that I can't envision how it can all come about. But that is not for me to do. I am to prepare them by teaching them Your ways. I pray I continue to speak of all You can do for them. I am to encourage them to hear Your voice and follow You. I am to assist them in any way to prepare them for what You have put within them to do to advance Your kingdom and take their place in the world. I pray I would not hold them back. I pray I would believe for the impossible. I pray I would declare Your will for their life to be done. I pray I would not make excuses out of my own insecurities. I do not want to discourage them from believing for a “now, go” from You to come quickly. I pray for each door to open in Your time. I may not be ready, but I pray they are ready. I bless my children and all they are to accomplish for You. I pray I would support them and honor them. I pray our gifts will align as we advance Your kingdom together. I ask for You to direct our path and for us to walk in our calling each and every day in Jesus' name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy Hand

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