As mentioned in our New Year’s Card ( also known as a Christmas Card for the busy, unorganized family), our second foster child’s departure and return with her family was imminent. 18 month old Baby D went to live with her mom on December 29 after 14 months with us. It was a tearful day and melancholy week for our family. The initial sadness has been replaced by periodic twinges of the heart, when pictures or a memory of our little sweetheart comes along.

Having never experienced this kind of loss, we wondered how our family would fare. Thankfully, we huddled with with one another and were able to enjoy the New Year and get back to our normally wacky life together. That was until we welcomed Baby D2 into our home January 6. His first names starts with “D”, of course, and he’s almost 8 months now. He’s cute as can be and a tremendous blessing. Roman, Dane, and Abe like having a boy, even if they don’t quite get the fact that babies are fragile no matter what sex they are.

On February 2, I (Champ) shared some of our family story during the Sunday services at New Hope Church. My dad asked me to tie together what I do now – running Discovering Light – and the numerous paths our life has taken, beginning with a “call to missions” almost 20 years ago. That original event was during a message given by missionary legend Floyd McClung (@floydmcclung) where he shared his family’s harrowing and fulfilling story of ministering in the Red Light District of Amsterdam. He described how when a pimp threatened his life at knife point, he responded by saying something like, “You can’t take my life, I’ve already given it away,” echoing apostles, saints, and martyrs throughout the centuries.  On that night, I thought my main life “calling” was to unreached people groups, as he described the great need for missionaries among the hardest places.

What I’ve come to realize, which came out clear as ever in preparation for my talk a few weeks back, was the most important mandate on my life is continually giving myself to God, so that I can live generously without fear of loss. This has become our pursuit, our imperfect struggle, as a couple and family – the theme that ties all the twists and turns, those we’ve chosen and those chosen for us. The message I shared is below. Take a listen if you like.