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Saturday, February 23, 2008

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

12 comments:

Yolanda said...

What a wise Mom Mr. Aaron has! A Daughter of the King, is that wise woman. Proberbs 31. Party ON Girlfriend!

Lovingly,
Yolanda

Kara Akins said...

Nice to meet you! Thanks for coming by. If you didn't tell me about the PS on LPM blog I woul dhave missed it. I didn't know she commented on my comment. I was a teenage mom. I remember when I found out I was pregnant I told the Lord in a guilty kind of way, "Look at what I have done". He replied, "I did this. This was my idea. My plan. I have a purpose and plan for this child." Wow! He blessed my heart with that. Now 13 years later I have seen the glory, the wisdom and the abundant goodness of His plan. His ways are not our ways and you know what? I am so glad they're not.

Susan said...

Hey Lelia,

Please let us know how the retreat went for Aaron. Hmmm, smelling good and alone in the woods with those girls. Sounds dangerous to me!

I pray God meets him BIG TIME. He's one brave young man to do this!!

Blessings~

Pamela (His maidservant) said...

I want to know how this went with your son also! I am so in need of some alone time with God. My anniversary is in a few weeks and we are going away to a cabin. Though I will have my husband, I will have plenty of God time too-we both will! Keep praying and thank you!!

In His Graces~Pamela

Amy L Brooke said...

Wonderful thoughts. A great reminder to keep God penciled in -- or maybe permanent marker!

Hope you are having a great weekend.

Kimberly said...

Well..atleast he will smell good for the Lord, too. :)

Blessings!
K :)

2nd Cup of Coffee said...

Oh, I love this. Your story and application hits home, Lelia. This is why I love that old song "I'm Getting Back to the Heart of Worship." It's all about Him.

Mrs.Naz@BecomingMe said...

What a cute post. I love how you tied the story into the importance of time with God without distractions. Thank you. Angela

valerie said...

Lelia,
I can't wait to hear about your son's experience.
By the way, how did your husband's procedure go? I was sure hoping it wasn't too painful. My son had back surgery a few years ago, so we've been through some of this. NOT FUN!
Bless ya,
Valerie

Annette said...

So true! How often have I created my own agenda when God would've loved to have my undivided attention! Thanks for sharing this...

MaryLu said...

I need a no distraction weekend. Looking forward to my retreat.
(Gotta remember to pack my "smell good.")

Pamela (His maidservant) said...

E-mail and I will fill you in. I am not doing well if the truth be told.
In His Graces~Pamela
arnoldp@william.jewell.edu