Alone in the woods

Yesterday afternoon, I took our handsome teenage son Aaron out to our church. He was leaving with the youth group on an overnight retreat. The retreat was at Timberlake Ranch Camp which is the camp I attended when I was a kid. It's a little over an hour away and such a neat atmosphere; a bunch of cabins in the woods. I was excited that Aaron was going to be able to get away from all of us and just spend some alone time with God. At least I was hoping that was what my teenage son had in mind.


As he was packing his bag I went through the checklist with him ...

Change of clothes? Yes

Pj's? Yes

Bible? Yes

Pillow? Yes

Sleeping bag? Yes

Cologne???? Yes mom cologne.

I questioned the cologne since he was going to the woods and suggested tooth products instead. After spraying his neck with what he calls his "smell good", he re-packed the cologne, but thankfully asked me to get his brush and paste for his teeth.


About an hour before departure time the youth pastor called us and said Aaron was going to be the only guy going due to some last minute cancellations. The pastor told us that Aaron could invite a friend for free, but the friend he wanted to take was sick. I'm a firm believer that sometimes God arranges our schedule and pencils Himself in. This thought excited me as I pictured God and Aaron having one on One time together with no distractions.

As we pulled into the church parking lot, I told him I'd be praying for him. He smiled and said, "Mom, if I were you...I'd be worried. I'll be the only guy this weekend. I look good, I smell good and I'll be alone in the woods with girls." He laughed as he tried to wink at me. I laughed and slapped him on the back of his head, kissed him goodbye and sent him off. What I saw as a "no distraction weekend", he was viewing as a "no competition weekend".

Oh Lord...

This morning I got to thinking about and praying for my Aaron. Even though I know he was just teasing me, I thought of how often I do that. God works it out to have me all to Himself and my mind is just not on Him. I wondered...what have I missed out on?

How many encounters with my Heavenly Father have I missed because I've been self-centered?


God wants your undivided attention and so when He clears your schedule and writes His name into the empty spaces, don't miss your appointments with your King.

The thought that the Creator wants alone time with me, just makes me crumble.

~Many Blessings~

Lelia