How

Today in church one of the leaders of Manna Ministry got up and gave a testimony about how God provided for Manna last Tuesday night, and I thought it was worthy of sharing with you.  Every Wednesday Manna Ministries gives food out to about 200 families who are considered "working poor", and every Tuesday night there is a team that stocks the shelves and makes sure that there is enough food for the anticipated amount of families who will be coming through.  Last week they were notified that they could not pull food from Second Harvest for the week because there was a shortage, and Second Harvest just so happens to be the largest supplier to Manna.  When they finished stocking, just like every Tuesday night, they gathered to pray over the food that they had, and they prayed specifically that God would provide enough food for the families who would come the next night.  After they were done praying there was a knock on the front door, so he went to the door, and there stood a 16 year old girl and her mother.  When he asked if he could help them, the mother responded that they had some food they would like to donate to Manna, and that for her daughter's 16th birthday party she had requested that instead of every guest bringing HER a gift, they brought some food to donate to Manna.  As soon as he was done telling that story I looked over at Lindsey and we both said "How do you raise a kid like that?".  Neither of us ever did that, but we think our parents were awesome parents who did a good job showing up how to treat others and teaching us right from wrong.  How do you set yourself and your children apart like that? 

God I pray that you will guide and direct Brad and I as parents.  That we will never parent using our OWN head or hearts, but rather we will parent Emery as you would have us to do so.  I pray that you will make your will for her clear, and that you will show us how to mold her into the kind of person that YOU would have her to be.  I pray for wisdom and strength when it's not easy because I know there will be lots of times when it won't be easy.  I thank you for this responsibility that you have entrusted us with, and I pray that we will be worthy laborers in building your kingdom through the way that we choose to bring up Emery.