TRUE NORTH

If your receive this blog through email, click below

~Email View to GraceReclaimed's Full Blog ~

 

This week I said goodbye to my youngest guy, my heart!  He shipped out for Army boot camp and AIT in Fort Benning, Georgia.  Then, he’s on to Airborne Infantry training...

But this full heart of mine has to take this, HIS dream, one step at a time!

 

He has wanted to join and serve his country since he was 12 years old, maybe even younger.  He has talked about it and dreamed about it for the last several years as his father and I selfishly tried everything to steer him in any other direction. After a year of college and a thankfully short but crazy detour, he is now pursuing that dream of his!   And as much as this mother fought this joining, she also feels a great amount of pride in the fact that he is so determined and dedicated to doing this thing.  Knowing full well, he will achieve and succeed admirably, this almost life long goal of his.

After 21 almost 22 years of our lives holding onto him with every hard headed, good intentioned mother bone in my body; I’m having to hand this “as hard” headed, bold hearted, soulful young man to someone else.  That someone else is not the strong but sensible and compassionate drill sergeant I’ve been praying to receive him upon his arrival on base...But the one true King, his Heavenly Father, who blessed him into our lives in the first place.  The only other one I could possibly trust to lead, guide and protect him on this journey!

So there I said it, I’m handing him over to God!!  You read it here, my vow to hand him over to the One who is always standing with open arms to receive any and everything I am willing to let go.   I am vowing to do this daily, because I know each night when I lay down to sleep, I will grab with everything I’ve got in this mother’s overprotective heart & mind to take it back in worry and fret….

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22

I heard a phrase the other day and it immediately made me think of him. 
 

True North is your orienting point - your fixed point in a spinning world – that helps you stay on track as a leader. It is derived from your most deeply held beliefs, values, and the principles you're lead by. It is your internal compass, unique to you, representing who you are at your deepest level.

He is certainly true north to me, he is a reminder of everything that is good in the world!  Not always perfect by any stretch like all of us, but constantly striving to do what is right and living for others and his God.

At his deepest level he longs to do something worthwhile, to serve in a way that will make a difference.  He kept saying he wanted to join the army for many reasons, but also to make his family proud. And we would respond, "We already are proud, but you must remember, the world is different now as is the reason for combat."

His response was always the same,

“Regardless, I’m going to hopefully help others return!”

So if I may be so bold as to ask you to pray for Garrison Lee Shaw, our youngest and truly brave guy.   The smallest thought or prayer from you, my friends will mean the world and those combined will add up to shouts to the One Most High! 

  

I Am a Son of a King Who is Not Moved by This World.

For My God is with Me and Goes Before Me.

I do not Fear Because I am His.

 

Over anxiously waiting for his one phone call to tell us he is good and give us his address so we can write to him over the next 14 weeks...
UPDATE~Got an unexpected call Thursday evening, he is good, no address yet so we should get to hear his voice again in the next week or so.  I rested for a moment :)

In God's gracious care, this rambling proud of my son Mom, B

2018 focus scripture...

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Joshua 1:9 

Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
 

Ezekiel 36:26

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Jeremiah 24:7

I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.

Lamentations 2:19
"Rise during the night and cry out. Pour out your hearts like water to the Lord.
Lift up your hands to him in prayer, pleading for your children."