Daring Daughters and Dirty Feet

[Ann Dunagan]

I’ve always had this “thing” for baby feet. I pull off darling shoes, and little newborn socks, and just want to kiss each of those tiny toes! I always ponder where a baby’s precious feet will go, and about God’s destiny and purpose for each new life. But speaking as a mother, what happens when our kids grow up, and God perhaps would call our sons, or our DAUGHTERS, to dangerous places?

Read more at Harvest Ministry . . .

[James Nored]

Ann, I totally understand the mix of feelings that you must have had with Christi in Cambodia and Niger. I would be praying EVERY MINUTE OF THE DAY! Wow. It helps that she is with a great godly man. And that Jesus has promised to be with her, to the very end of the age.

It must be a blessing to see your children grow up to be incredible young men and women for Christ. We watched the movie Beezus and Ramona tonight. Have you seen it? It is such a sweet family movie with two girls. We all teared up!

[Ann Dunagan]

It's one thing to "say" that we release our children to God; but it's quite another thing to actually trust God when they really start stepping out. Our daughter Christi spent last summer in Cambodia and Niger, West Africa. And the Niger trip was a big thing -- she's in a serious relationship with an awesome godly guy, who happens to be a 3rd generation missionary kid from Niger. His family minister to remote people groups and plant churches and work with orphans and relief efforts. less than 3% Christian. very hot and dry. Sahara desert. Very far away. One of the poorest countries in the world. Would I release my daughter . . . to the possibility of that? Can this guy measure up to what that relationship could "cost us" as a family . . . but, I can't think like that. I just have to give my daughter to the Lord, and TRUST HIM!!!! And know that God's plans are GOOD!!!

There was this one time at the end of the summer when I got this little "glimpse" of God's heart. My daughter had been gone from home all year at college, then immediately after graduation, she went on the two mission trips, and was gone for months. But when she came home, we had this one afternoon together that was SO RICH and awesome. I just listened to her heart and her love for people . . . and I felt in that one moment, so overwhelmingly BLESSED and FULL as a mother. It reminded me of that song, "Better is one day in Your House, Better is one day in Your Courts, Better is one day in Your House, than thousands elsewhere." I realized that a moment with my daughter, with her in obedience to God's will -- even if it meant we would be far apart -- was better than thousands of days right nearby, if that's not where God wants her to be.

May God direct your Gina and Emily, for God's purposes for them both, and prepare you and your wife to help direct their training, for His purposes!!!

[James Nored]

Ann, as the father of two beautiful girls, I know that it must be of a concern at times to have your daughters in dangerous places. But I know that you must also be so proud! I know that I would feel this way if Gina or Emily (my girls) had in their hearts to go to Africa or someplace like that. They have evangelistic hearts, so I would not be surprised if they were foreign missionaries one day. They definitely will be domestic missionaries, I see that already.