FaceTime with Theo and Lesleigh as I boarded my flight to Tokyo
The sliding doors open to the terminal, and I turn around to wave goodbye to Lesleigh and Theo who are standing by our car in the passenger drop off lane at the Nashville airport. This sight has been a familiar one this year, and it isn’t easy… but we do know it’s purposeful and important.
On one hand, we miss each other so greatly that it feels like I’m separated from a part of my own self; on the other, we know who we are and what our mission is, which brings clarity to any situation.
Last night, Theo got up for a middle-of-the-night feeding. I went to get him from his crib and quietly walked him through the hallway in my arms to hand him to Lesleigh. We were all up together as a family at 3am.
Lesleigh just whispered to me, “I can’t wait to tell him how you moved heaven and earth and sacrificed time with us, to do what you do and to care for us.” The sweetest thing I’ve ever heard at 3am.
I’m really looking forward to one day soon when we’ll park our car, and all walk in together for a flight bound for an international mission as a family. Soon!
People sometimes ask me, “aren’t these tours hard?” Do you have to do them!?” My response is “I GET to do them!! I get to represent the U.S. people overseas, I get to share music AND a message, bring encouragement, and be encouraged in return.” I was born for this.
Remember: Just because things are hard does not mean you shouldn’t do them. Challenging conversations, missions, jobs, and even people are in our lives to grow us, shape character, and show our purpose more clearly.
With that in mind, I’m so eager to serve in Southeast Asia over the next two weeks. What a joy!