“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

Training Me Up

I’ve heard that verse all my life, and have certainly believed the truth of it. We often thought of that verse as we raised our two children. But lately I’ve been reflecting on how much it means…for ME!

There are so many truths, so many principles that I live by that I learned from early childhood. I’ve often shared things from my growing up years—lessons, songs, guidelines. The things instilled in me as a child have been part of my whole life!

Someone left a comment on the Facebook prayer page that the updates I’m writing aren’t just from lessons learned on this unexpected journey, but they’re also from things God has been teaching me all my life. That’s certainly true! There are lessons, “ways of God,” that I have learned over many years that are being put into deep practice in these difficult days.

The things I learned as a child—every principle, every concept—are the foundation stones for the lessons I’m learning now on our unexpected journey. The roots of each lesson go back to the early days of my life. I’m so grateful for the things that were imparted to me in my early years.

My mother, my Aunt Lillian, and several other godly ladies in my home church taught me so much by their lives and example. Pastor Sam O’Toole encouraged me to step out into missions as a 16-year old. Floyd’s mom mentored me in being a “preacher’s wife.” I must have asked her a million questions.

Darlene Cunningham in YWAM taught me about being a wife in missions—about trusting God for finances, being flexible, hearing His voice, hospitality. I read everything I could get my hands on from Ruth Bell Graham about being married to a man who traveled a lot. I’ve often said that she mentored me from afar.

Edith Schaeffer taught me so much about reflecting God in our home in simple beauty and creativity, and about welcoming everyone into our lives and community. We only spent a short time at L’Abri in Switzerland, but I learned lessons that impacted my whole life during that time.

Each lesson God brings into our life—the things He teaches us in every season—has lasting, eternal impact. Some of the simplest lessons from my early years have laid foundations for the big things I’m walking through now. He doesn’t waste any lesson He brings to us! They’re all part of who He’s forming us to be.

He’s always faithful to teach us and prepare us for what’s ahead. He doesn’t take us through any season that He hasn’t faithfully prepared us for in a previous season. I can look back over my years and see how He graciously prepared me for this unexpected journey, starting from when I was four years old when He would speak things into my heart in the middle of the night. I loved laying in bed and talking with Him.

I’m so grateful that He trained me in the way I should go.

 “Thank You for the lessons You began to teach me even in my childhood!”