A New Leaf is Growing

     It has been quite a while since my last blog. Not because of the lack of events in our lives but because we have been so busy that I have hardly had time to sit and just be.  I'm not sure if you have ever had moments like that, but this past year has been very trying for our family.  God had been introducing a change that I quite frankly did not want to hear.  I have been very happy with where we are and did not need any shaking.  I mean I finally felt like I was beginning to arrive at a settled place after being on the "chaos" and "transition" bridge for so long.  But you know, we had been praying that God would have His way and would speak and bring us to a deeper level in Him.  A friend of mine sent me a beautiful message one day that I now know came directly from heaven.  I have to tell you a little bit of the background so you could understand.  You see we had given this friend a plant as a house warming gift when we visited right before moving to Zambia.  She was very glad for it and even promised to pray for our family every time she would water the plant. I was moved because that is exactly what she did.  Well, here we are five and a half years on the field and believe it or not the plant is still alive.  There was a problem not long ago where she noticed that the plant was looking unhealthy.  I think it is best to post what she wrote:

Hey Vicky, I thought perhaps I should check in and let you know that the Carr plant is alive and well.  I must admit, it has endured quite a bit of neglect on my part.  I don't have much of a green thumb and often forget to water it but it's resilient and it's still holding on.  It's leaves have suffered a few scrapes and bruises but I think it adds character.  Once it got knocked over and dirt went everywhere but thankfully it wasn't permanently damaged.  A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that it was beginning to look a bit tired and dry so I thought to re-pot it.  (It's been in the same pot since you guys gave it to us right before your initial trip to Zambia).  But after inspecting its roots, I noticed it hadn't actually outgrown its home and didn't need a new pot afterall - just fresh soil and a healthy dose of plant food.  I took great care to replace the soil and then returned it back to its original place in our dining room.  I'm now happy to report that in just a short while, it has perked up and it's actually growing a new leaf!  Not many plants would survive the way this one has! I expect it will be fully recovered and thriving again in no time!

I pray you are doing well, my friend, "I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His spirit.  Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him.  Let your roots grow deep down into the soil of His wondrous love and keep you strong." Ephesians 3:16,17

      This amazing message spoke so clearly to me for where I was back then.  All I knew is that like the plant I had been knocked down and felt like all I stood in (my soil) was scattered all over the place.  So bruised and broken.  God was saying, "Let me heal you and help you get new soil and put you back to the right place."  Of course, as the healing process began and slowly God started taking away the dead leaves and fixing the scrapes, I prayed, "Lord, like the verse in Ephesians, please let my roots grow down deep so that nothing would move me from the place where you place me."  Well, like a true Father who does not give me a stone when I ask for bread He did just that... He started to let my roots grow deep.  One thing I did not realize though, is that as the roots grow deep eventually a new pot is essential for healthy growth to continue...  And transplant shock is almost inevitable...

More to come...