A Promise

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
(Deuteronomy 6:7 ESV)

On December 4th, 2011, we stood in front of the body of believers at our church and dedicated Charlie to God.

We promised to do our best to raise him to know, love, and serve God.

We promised to work diligently to lead him to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

We promised to try our very best to model God's love as we teach him, discipline him, and take care of him.

We acknowledged our belief that God created Charlie with a specific plan and purpose for his life, and promised to do our best to prepare him to fulfill that purpose.

Most of all, Greg and I spent a lot of time that day just laughing out loud. 

When we prayerfully made the decision to have a fourth child, we had no idea how it would be. Would we be totally exhausted? Would we be overwhelmed? 

Would he be left out by the other kids? Resented by the other kids? Would there still be time to teach well, to keep the house clean, to take a shower, to have a date night every once in a while?

Were we crazy to believe that God had one more child for us, and was waiting to bless our lives with him?

Nope.

We thank God for our boy. What a joyful surprise he has been.