We have recently seen that our little girl is a bit mission minded. We have always known she had a heart for giving. She happily gives of her time, abilities, toys, etc to her family. She has even been reduced to tears because her tithe was forgotten at home. And she often chooses to give most, if not all, of any gifted money to the church. It is a beautiful thing to see such a heart for giving in a young person. All this we knew about her.
But recently she surprised us with a desire to give in a different way. It began with some pretend play on her part. She walked into the room with a backpack on her shoulders and announced to Jim and me that she was going away to stay with some other people for three weeks. I told her three weeks is an awful long time to go away. To which she responded with "it's ok, I'm bringing food." So I asked her if the people she was going to see were not willing to feed her. She informed me that they didn't have any food, she was bringing the food for them. After a bit more discussion she also told us that she was going to help them build houses too.
Now, Jim and I have not really talked much about missions with the kids. Neither of us have ever felt led to join the mission field away from home, we feel our mission is to pour into our children. (Let me just make clear: we know many people who feel that calling, and we believe it to be a great thing.) We have spoken a bit to our children about poverty and the conditions some people have to live in. About how spoiled we are with the amenities we are blessed to have. About how we should strive to be less wasteful and always be grateful for what we have. About giving to the needy. But never really about going to those poverty stricken places or third world countries to help people directly. So it came as a bit of a surprise. But a nice surprise.
With my dear sweet daughter's natural desire to give and help, it is a very plausible possibility in her future for her to go into the mission field. Its something that, until this past weekend, we had never really considered for any of our children. Which is not altogether surprising considering our sweet girl, our oldest, is not yet 5. But her pretend play has opened up the discussion between Jim and myself, and with her as well. Hearing about how people really do travel and help like that was quite exciting for her. And she definitely has an interest in it being in her future.
It's a long time off, but we truly could see her in that role. And we would be very proud and supportive, though maybe a bit terrified, if that is indeed a path she, or her brothers, chooses to follow.
Tiny girl, great big heart, and the faith and hope to move mountains.
