Friday, March 6, 2009

Refining Fire

So, cheerleading wasn't God's plan for Torrey next year. She was (and still is) devastated. We have had a difficult night/day/night working through this. Dean and I are so sad for her ... she truly worked hard and was ready. In a few days, this will become part of the story of how Torrey became Torrey. Oh, just wait world, she is going to be amazing!

Torrey stayed home from school today. She spent the day with Dean ... there is nothing like a sweet Daddy's love! I, on the other hand, went to school. Boy howdy was it hard. I struggled with knowing that I pour my heart into 19 kiddos and I don't feel like that is being done for Tor. I so want her to not lose her confidence. I want her to believe that she can do anything she sets her mind and heart to. I would love to keep her in a bubble, but, there is an episode of Seinfeld which shows that bubble living isn't all it's cracked up to be!

Oh, and my day was made even more perfect when we discovered that my little buddy has ringworm. Um, he has had it for 2 weeks. And, he just got medicine for it today. Please re-read the above paragraph and pay special attention to the part where I say that I love on my kiddos. Did you become itchy or is it just me?

So, our family went from feeling like we were in the valley last night to feeling like we are in the Refiner's fire today. My prayer is that Torrey will not be a ho-hum Christian. That she won't be a girl who takes God for granted. That she will not just view Him as her best friend, but as her EVERYTHING. I want her to be a girl who is sold out to Jesus. Who seeks Him to guide her in every part of her life. That when strangers see her they will wonder what it is that makes her so amazing ... and, they shouldn't wonder what, they should wonder WHO! To get to that point, you have to go through a refining fire. Difficult? Yes, but at the other end is a life worth its weight in gold. Pure gold.




4 comments:

Laurie said...

She isn't GOING to be amazing, she IS amazing. That didn't change! I'm praying God reveals some reason to you. But even if He doesn't, HE holds the future. Its your job to teach her that...through the sadness. Sometimes I think it is just as difficult on the parents! LOVE YOU TORREY, and TRACY, and DEAN!

Steve said...

I have news for you....TORREY ALREADY IS AMAZING!!!! And anyone who would like to argue that point with me can bring themselves to Tampa for the whooping they deserve. Torrey, no matter what, keep trying for the desires of your heart cause sometimes the door opens, and you can show everyone else what we already know, YOU ARE AMAZING!!

jaywalker said...

Make sure that Torrey knows we love her a whole lot!!!

If she isn't ready to give this dream up, I'm sure that there are things that you can do outside of school to get her involved in cheerleading... maybe a camp this summer? good thing you live in such a big city with so many opportunities.

grannimcd said...

We just returned from an all-day seminar on prayer. And the bottom line is - and this is for all of us - not just for Torrey (Our hearts are so very sad for her too) that all of our lives (the answered and not the way we want to be answered - prayers) are all part of a beautiful tapestry that is our lives - woven by His Almighty hand. As Edith Schaeffer once said, we only see the back (messy) side of that tapestry --- but He sees the Masterpiece that He is making of us. I know this doesn't make her feel any better but it is all part of His perfect and eternal life to make her the beautiful woman of God that the already beautiful girl of God is..... xxxooo