We're All in This Together

"We always need to be on the lookout for those teachable moments with our children ~ spontaneous lessons that appear in the side yard, the laundry room, and the grocery store. ~ Susan Card

A few weeks ago, we had the joy of hosting some of our dearest friends for a get-together at our home. The mommies (two of my girlfriends) are long-time friends. We watched each other get married and begin our families. We don't get to spend the time together we'd like, but when we are together, it is always a good time. Collectively, we have five children, all fitting in just the right age range to play together and hang out.

Emily and Jamie (the eldest of the bunch) asked if they could watch a video together. They couldn't come to a resolution of which movie to view. The mommies stayed out of it. They talked with (ummm, actually "at") each other until they decided on High School Musical. As I watched them dance and party like rock stars, I got to thinking about one of the theme songs of this modern, kid phenomenon. "We're All in this Together."

And I believe, we really are.

Who would pray for us if we weren't? Who would dry our tears and share our joys? Why would we ever need God if there weren't those unavoidable glitches in life that bring us right to His space and place?

In this world, we need to be in this together. It made me think about this family



I do not know these people. I have never met them, however, their story crossed my path and now I scramble to the computer everyday to check on them, evaluate what direction the prayer should go and rejoice when they have happy news about their darling little girls, especially Ayla as she receives treatment for retinoblastoma. You can read about them here.

Then, there is this family



Nate, a pastor, is the daddy, Tricia, the mommy, is a CF patient and awaiting a critical transplant and the little one not in the picture because she was born very premature is Gwenyth. I pray for this family daily, not because I would pretend to know them, but because for reasons only God knows, He brought it to my attention, they need prayer. I would encourage you to stop here and pray if you feel led or at least leave them some encouragement as they walk this road.

Somehow the enormity of the world seems less and more attainable with each person we gather into our fold. My hope is that I will teach my children about extending themselves, praying for others, serving God and the world because we need to be ultimately aware, we are all in this together.

This thankful Thursday, I am thankful for good friends, for their joys and their children. I am thankful for prayer, and for God's design in uniting us, especially in the world we live in today. I am thankful for blogging and the friends I have made that I never would have known. I am thankful that I have a forum to present prayer concerns and know that somewhere one more person will lift those I have mentioned just because they could. I am thankful that every morning when we get to a particular landmark on the way to Emily's school that Hannah shouts out gleefully, "Mommy, PRAY!" and she bows her pretty little head and folds those adorable fingers, keeping her eyes closed tight until Emily or I finish with "Amen".

We are all in this together...