Life Goes On

This morning we woke up to the news that Barack Obama had won the presidential election. As I started getting ready for work and listened to the news reports, I wondered what it meant for our country and our families.

Then I heard Stefan coughing in his room and the national news was quickly pushed aside in the bustle of the morning. After a few minutes I decided he should probably not go to school today.

Lars had a meeting for Youth Haven this morning at a school in Jackson, so that meant I had to take Lukas to school. Stefan stayed in his pajamas and wrapped up in a blanket in the car, and we headed up to Lansing.

Just before I got on the highway, a 6-point buck ran right in front of my car. I know it was a 6-point because I had an amazing close-up look at him about two inches from my headlights. I was grateful for good, responsive brakes in that moment!

Well, we did make it to school, but as Lukas was getting out of the car he realized he had forgotten his backpack. Since we live 35 minutes away from school, there was no way I could go back and get it. I walked him to his class and he would not go in. He wrapped his arms around my neck and would not let go, crying the whole time because he didn't have his homework to turn in. He had a substitute teacher today, and fortunately she was able to calm him down and cheer him up.

That didn't solve the fact that he now had nothing to eat for his mid-morning snack. I promised him I would run to the gas station and bring him something. He asked for animal crackers or mandarin oranges.

Do you think gas stations sell animal crackers or mandarin oranges? Fortunately, there is a Quality Dairy on the corner by the school. No animal crackers, but they did have a jar of mandarin oranges and a box of plastic forks. I bought them and headed back to the school, knowing I would need to open the jar before I put it in his locker or he would never be able to get it open. Naturally, when the lid released, juice squirted all over the front of me. Stefan found an old Wendy's napkin in the back seat and I wiped it off as much as I could, then headed inside, put the oranges and the forks in his locker, and back out to the car. (Stefan sat in the locked car with his blanket over him the whole time.)

Finally, as we were on the way home, I took a deep breath. And I realized something important. Life went on as usual today, even though our country elected a new president last night. At this point in my life, my most important role is as a mother, and I am doing the best I can in that role. That doesn't change as a result of last night's election.

More importantly, it is not the help of Barack Obama or John McCain that I need as I strive to raise my children to be followers of Christ. It is only God Himself, the Name Above All Names, Who can give me the guidance, wisdom and strength I need for the task at hand.

I don't know what the future holds. But I know that God is able to do even greater things than we could ever ask or imagine. The early church flourished in spite of enormous persecution and opposition. Praise God we are not at that point in our country. I may not agree with all of the things Barack Obama and a Democratic Congress hope to accomplish. But I celebrate the fact that I live in a nation where I have the freedom to serve, worship, and seek the One True God. And that is what I will continue to do with all my heart.

In the midst of our harried morning, we did have one special moment together in the car on the way up to school. The boys and I agreed that we need to pray for Barack Obama, that he would accept Christ as his Savior and that God would help him to do what is right for our country. I hope other Christians will resolve to pray the same way.