I met the sweetest
baby boy seventeen years ago today and I have been smitten ever since. Alex Harmon entered my world and stole my
heart.
He was so patient
with this mama, who had no idea what she was doing.
He was always so
quick to love and so quick to forgive.
Oh how I wish I
could go back and be the mom I am today for that sweet little boy. If anyone deserves the mom I get to be to
Miles it’s him.
I cared too much
what people thought of me.
It affected my
rules, my words, and my actions.
Alex deserved a mom whose identity was grounded and anchored in Christ, and not in her
role as a wife and mom. He deserved a
mom who knew the God of the Bible and trusted that He was indeed a good, good
Father. He deserved a mom who desired to
connect to his heart before correcting his behavior.
But God.
And Grace.
He didn’t get what
I think he deserved,
but instead he got
messy imperfect me.
He got to witness
what it looks like to be broken.
He got to watch what
it looks like to walk the path of healing.
He got to see God
put the pieces of my shattered heart back together.
No, Alex Harmon
didn’t get what he deserved, but God kept His word and worked all things
together for good.
Alex doesn’t
need broken, messy me.
Alex doesn’t
need put together me.
Alex needs
me to willing to empty myself of me so that Jesus can shine. That’s how I can love him and forgive him and
serve him without abandon and without regret.
That’s how I can live love. That’s
all he needs.
“For the wages of
sin is death, but the free gift
of God
is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
{Romans 6:23}
Thank you, Jesus,
for taking our place on the cross so that none of us have to get what we
deserve. Thank you for modeling what it
looks like for a human to be fully connected to God. I pray what was said of you in Luke 2 will be
true of Alex Harmon, that he “grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And
the favor of God was upon him.”
Henry Varley said, "The world has yet to see what God can do with
and for and through and in a man who is fully and wholly consecrated to
Him." Alex, I challenge you
to be that man. I have told you since
you were little that God was going to use you to change your world and I
believe that with all of my heart. Jesus
says over and over in scripture that He came to do the will of His Father. Make that your mission. In John 13, an all-powerful Jesus
demonstrated His power by taking off his robe, tying a towel around his waist,
and serving. He served those He loved
and those who did not deserve His love.
He took their filthy, dirty feet and washed them clean. Clothe yourself in humility. If anyone deserved to be praised and honored,
it’s Jesus. And yet, He humbled himself,
gave up all rights and all power, and became human. And obeyed.
And served. I pray that it
bothers you, that it messes with your head, that it stirs your soul, that Jesus
was more humble than you and than me.
May it never be!
