STORY OF IMPACT
Today’s story was sent to me recently by a lady who was part of my church for years. She met her future husband there, a wonderful man who helped me plant the church so many years ago. They were both single for most of those years, and married much later in life. They are wonderful supporters of my vital ministry work, and subscribe to my weekly Thoughts Provoking, faithfully reading them. God miraculously gave them a child of their own. I was deeply touched by her testimonial, and wanted to share it with all of you.
Hi Pastor Mark
I just wanted to drop you a quick note to thank you and encourage you!!
All those years at The Rock that I was single and had my career in child and family therapy, I listened as you taught about parenting and God’s way to raise children. God used you to greatly influence my work with families and He continues to use your words as we raise our own son. We have chosen a different path than many of our relatives/friends and it is amazing how the difference shows!! On Christmas Eve and New Years Eve, our son, and my husband and I were complimented on our son’s behavior. I was blown away that how he behaved was so noticed in these two instances!
On Christmas Eve, we were at a restaurant and as we were leaving the restaurant, the manager stopped me to tell me that one of his staff had commented to him that our son was the most well behaved child they had ever seen! I had immediate tears. My son was just acting like he always does and how we expect him to behave. He ate, interacted with those around the table and then laid down in the booth when the lunch was going a little long for him. Praise God for His provisions!!
Then on New Year’s Eve, we had some family members over and a 10 year old told my husband that our little boy was so polite! A 10 YEAR OLD! WOW! I was blown away!
The Lord gave us a sweet boy with a wonderful temperament and He gave us His Word to guide us. I’m so thankful for you. He also gave us you and all the wisdom you pour into families. We thank God for your leadership, your words ring in our ears often and we are so thankful for those years before our son was born and the time after, that God used you to help prepare us. We are not perfect parents by any means but we are thankful for all that God has given us, to help us disciple our son for His glory and to be a complete delight to us and others.
Friends, I hope and trust this was an encouragement to you. Be assured that all those years of parenting wisdom and insights are contained in the Thoughts Provoking articles I have written and continue to write, and also on my website in all my parenting messages. Please use them, listen to them, read them, and apply them! They will make a huge difference in your parenting and in your children’s lives!
*Important note and prayer requests: My Strong Disciple website went down on Friday morning at 3 AM. I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused for you. That is why many have not been able to access it. Also last week my mother had a mild heart attack and has been in the hospital and my daughter has been dealing with pneumonia. Please keep my mother and daughter in your prayers for their full and complete recovery. Thank you.
Helping you become a Strong Disciple,
Because of Jesus,
Pastor Mark Darling