Praying for our Bonsai Bush

In high school my brother became obsessed with bonsai trees. He thought they were so fascinating, and let's be honest, he's right. Bonsais are the product of the imagination of the gardener. Through careful cultivation and tender care you can choose what shape you want your bonsai tree to take.

For the past year (or actually 14 months on Wednesday) we have been embarking upon the most wonderful of adventures called parenthood. I can't even begin to tell you the new understandings I have gained about myself, my husband, the Lord, and disinfecting over the past year. Our son, Judah, has been a marvelous blessing and it has been such a fun, delightful, and challenging task to be his guides in this world.

We pray every day that God would mold and shape Judah's personality to be usable for His kingdom and His glory. We see so much in our son that we know the Lord can use, but we also know the world will try to abuse these same traits given the chance.



For instance, he has such a magnetic personality - he always has. People are just drawn to him, and when they don't notice him he knows how to get their attention...in a positive way. We know that people who grow up in the spotlight and loving it can be some of the most narcissistic, self-absorbed people on the planet. We also know that it can be one of the greatest tools for evangelism. We pray every day that God will take a hold of the aspect of our son, that he will grow it and encourage it, and that He will draw others to Judah for His name's sake.

Other aspects of his personality that we are asking the Lord to gain control of are his fearlessness, his pleasant demeanor, and his humor. It's so fun to think of how God can use our son for an eternal purpose! It's also humbling and challenging that we have been designated as his guides for spiritual growth. What a blessed task!



We have now added a new aspect to our prayers for little Judah Nathan - starting in August our son is going to enter into a new realm in his relationship with the world and with us. We are asking the Lord to make him a good big brother. We don't just mean the kind of big brother that doesn't make the younger ones eat worms or blame them for the broken flower pot. We want him to step into that role with the honor and dignity the position of "big brother" has the potential to carry. We are praying that he will protect, teach, and tend our new little one.

We are praying, as our family grows, that the members of our family will grow right along with it. We have to faithfully place ourselves (and our children) in the hands of the skilled gardener to shape us in whatever way would best serve His purposes.

God, please make us the parents that you've called us to be. Shape our son into the man you have designed him to be. Keep our baby healthy and developing well, and make plans for that child that will affect Your kingdom forever. Use our whole family, Lord, and use each one in our family.