Usable

Saturday I went to KC to pick up our son Aaron. He has been in Orlando with Gene's family for an entire month. 32 days without seeing, touching, kissing or wanting to slap his handsome face. He's a teenager so you know I have those days when I want to smack the attitude out of him. But not on Saturday. I just wanted to touch him, hug him and kiss on him.

His plane arrived early so he had just walked outside after getting his luggage when we pulled up to the Southwest gate. So tall and handsome, I couldn't get out of the car fast enough to give him a hug and kiss.

My friend Kelley was with me so he played it cool. He gave me a half smile and nod of the head when we pulled up as if 32 days and nights had never passed between us. The fact that he wasn't jumping up and down at the sight of me didn't matter when he didn't reject my kisses and even gave me a hug followed with an I love you too.

It was so good to have him so close to me again. I just love this kid. He has such a special heart beating inside of him.

He is so caring about his friends.

Cares about where they will spend eternity.

This spring he attended a conference put on by our family friend, Pastor John Harris called Manhood 101. Aaron invited so many of his friends to the conference.

Had some spend the night to make sure they would be there and gave rides to those who had no other way to get there. This is a picture of Aaron receiving a service award from Mr. Harris for his efforts of inviting so many guys.

While Aaron was in Florida, his friend Deondre lost his Mother.

Already fatherless, he was broken hearted when he tried waking her up last Monday morning to find that she had passed in her sleep. Fifteen years old and forced to deal with this major life loss of his 50 year old mother and he turned to my son.

He asked him if he would ask John Harris if he would do his Mom's funeral.

Aaron is best friends with John Jr. and so he called the house to ask John Sr. if he would do it and of course he said yes.

Then Aaron called my Mom and asked if she could print off a few pictures she took when they recently played in a basketball tournament together so that Dre could put some pictures of himself in the casket with his Mom. I went to my Mom's house Friday night and picked up the 111 pictures she had printed of him shooting, dribbling and passing.

Dre tucked 10 pictures of himself next to his Mom.

Then Aaron called and asked his Dad to go to the funeral and represent him.

Saturday morning Aaron called me to make sure Gene was going and said,

"Mom, don't forget to tell Dad to wear black."

His 6 foot 2 frame is so full of compassion.

When Aaron got into the car at the airport, Amiyah had been asleep and didn't wake up until we got to Kelley's house. She absolutely adores her Uncle Aaron as he does her and yet, she would not look at him for anything in this picture.

No matter how hard he tried, she would only look around him, but never at him which gave him a good laugh.

I think she was a little upset that he left her for 32 days...

I must tell you, I am not in anyway bragging on the parenting job Gene and I have done with this kid because Lord knows, we fall so short.

Instead I brag about what God has done and is doing in his life and praise the parenting job Aaron's heavenly Father is doing.

I look at Aaron and I see so much potential.

He earns great grades, is an excellent athlete, is handsome...just the whole package and yet if he doesn't let God have his way with him, none of that matters.

That's the same with all of us.

Whatever gifts God has blessed us and entrusted us with, if we are not using them for His glory, if we are not living our life completely sold out for Him, if we are not concerned about where others are going to spend eternity...

then

what are we doing?

None of what we do matters if we don't do it God's way.

Our life is meant to be used by Jesus for His purposes.

We were created for Him.

We are to glorify Him with our words, actions and life.

We are to help the lost be found.

Love the hard to like.

Embrace the untouchable.

Show compassion to those hurting.

Sometimes Satan can make us feel like we are so small and he's right, we are.

BUT

we serve a God that can take out a giant with a small stone

part a sea

rise up after 3 days of death

and

use a cool teenager to help his friend through a tough time.

Our God is HUGE.

Thank you Lord Jesus for using my son to make me see that You will use anyone willing.

I am willing Sweet Jesus...use me.

HUMBLE WILLINGNESS.

~Many Blessings~