I think the same thing when I see little babies. We don't know what they will become. It's fun to watch them as they grow and begin to assert themselves and their own interests. As that happens we can begin to see the possibilities of who they will be in the years to come. We will soon be leaving a community in which we have lived for 9 years. In my entire life that is the longest I've ever lived anywhere. Four young people who will be entering their Senior year in High School were entering 3rd grade when we arrived. Their siblings are two years behind. Babies are finishing elementary school. Over the years we and their parents have entrusted the school, the community, and the church to assist them as they grew, and I will be interested to see what happens in the years to come. We, and these young people, have one more resource to get us through and help us become the best we can. God in Jesus Christ, through the leading of the Holy Spirit will be with us all, even when we turn away, even when we are unaware, even when that leading goes in directions we never expected. And in that we can relax and move into our own futures
Loving God, you birth us, you nurture us, you teach us, you challenge us, you lead us, you help us find our way out of sticky situations we've gotten ourselves into. You send your Spirit to console us, to encourage us, to show us the path, and lead us to your saving grace. As we continue to walk through our lives reassure us that no matter what happens we are never alone, and that you will help us to grow into the people you need and want us to be.......Amen.