Therapeutic Service

We have learned a lot in the past year and a half. One of the things that we have learned is that physical labor as well as service on behalf of those less fortunate can be therapeutic. Nothing helps to shift the self-absorbed focus of hurt and torment like meeting a tangible need of someone else who is hurting. Of course, it does not negate years of hurt and loss for our children, but it confirms that they are strong children with great potential and loving hearts who can bless others. It has been a double blessing for us to watch them grow in compassion as their vision is expanded to include the needs of others and not just their own hurts, needs and wants.

We have been praying for opportunities to be a blessing to others in ways that our children would be successful at meeting a tangible need and learning about a broader view of life - including the needs of others and their own talents, abilities, and desires to help meet those needs. We have been praying that our children would learn that their days are meant to be purposeful, Christ-centered, not self-centered. It is our prayer that as our family seeks Christ and the opportunities that He provides in serving together God would continue to do a healing work in the hearts of our children and family, binding us together and drawing us closer to Him.

Last week we were blessed to get to help weed and plant carrots in the garden of a couple from our church. The kids and I learned so much about gardening - it was like we had taken a horticulture class! One morning our oldest daughter got to help a busy mom take care of six very young children - a double bonus for her because she spent significant time reading to the kids that morning and didn't have to do her reading school work that day as a result. These small events were so successful and exactly what we have been praying to do! It is evidence that God has done much work in our family in the past year!

This weekend we traveled to my parents and visited my hometown where the tornadoes hit last week. My dad, Nic, the big girls, and I were able to spend half the day today helping a farm family in the area who faced total devastation. It was incredible to see such loss and destruction and the girls did great in processing all of it and working through their emotions. I am thankful that we could do it together. At this particular farm there was nothing salvageable. The entire house had been tossed and shredded, only a crumbled portion of the basement remained. Even the furnace had been sucked out of the basement and had landed on the far side of the property. The girls worked like troopers clearing shredded metal, scraps of wood, household garbage, searching for photos, clearing tree branches, and clearing and dumping crashed and broken cinder block. During this time our girls were able to see a community of people come together to help a family face a tragic loss. They were able to help someone they didn't even know and to work together alongside us as a family. When we returned to my parents we jumped in the lake for a swim and to wash off the dirt. The little kiddos stayed with Nana for the day because it wasn't really safe for them to help out with tornado debris removal due to all the wood with nails and broken glass. Their chores for the day included picking up sticks at the lake and cleaning the beach. They were all happy to help out in some capacity.

When you have lost your security, your home, your family, and your country and had to start all over again it is nice to be able to help when you see someone else in need, even if you are only nine or eleven years old.

The house was once in this area and is completely gone.

Much of the debris from the house ended up in a grove of trees,

completely smashed and destroyed.