Ever wonder if what you do makes a difference? If the words you say to your children or the small acts of kindness they never notice, or even the gallant efforts you make to impart great truths matter?
Yeah, me too. Because, as my children have become older, it feels more and more like my parenting is about sacrificial acts that go unnoticed, or even unappreciated. Does my son care that I ran his folder to school (on my way to the airport) after he left it at home? Or my daughter notice that I left her favorite jar of goober (peanut butter and jelly) in her stuff for camp? Or my son notice that I printed off a blog about his desired profession?
Maybe not. But I have to believe that they create a fragrance in our home of love. That my actions are not poured out to them, but actually upon the feet of the Lord, in worship, in gratitude for this rich life. That as I reach inside and give everything I have…there abounds the redolence of grace.
At least I hope so.
So, in a desperate quest to know, I sat down with my son and asked him: What do you miss when I'm gone?
He looked at me and without hesitation said:
Food.
Really, anything else?
Cookies?
And…
Pizza?
Okay, seriously…
Fine, how about popcorn?
Right, well, okay, I got the point. But, as I got up to leave he said, "Wait, Mom. I miss your wisdom, your humor and your good looks."
He was just trying to get on my good side with that last one. But it worked. I'm off to make chocolate chip cookies. Just one of the fragrances I like to leave behind.
But seriously, what fragrance do YOU leave behind? Just something to ponder as we race (or perhaps savor?) summer.
I've been traveling a lot recently – but I am home for a few weeks and enjoyed the 4th of July with my family. I'm working on a new book for a series out next winter with Steeple Hill – a three-book romantic -suspense for Steeple Hill's Love Inspired Suspense line that follows up my Mission: Russia series. This one: a mistaken identity in Cancun (and yes, I forced myself to go there for research. Sacrifices, donchyaknowit.) More on that later. But first…look for Licensed for Trouble, PJ Sugar #3 to hit the stands in August!
Thank you again for all the reader mail – and for your sweet support in the bookstores and online – you leave a fragrance of grace in my life.