Reason #349875...

In August of 1998 (yes for all of you counting it was TEN years ago) I met Heidi Jo Post. She lived across the hall from me, on the second floor of Kenoyer Hall at Manhattan Christian College, and she was from Plainville. At first I wondered if Plainville was even a real place.

I can remember her moving in to her dorm room. She was rooming with one of her best friends from high school, and at that point I was just wishing I had one friend. You see, I was hundreds of miles from home, and terribly home sick. I felt more alone that fall than I have any other time in my life. I cried every time I called home. Every time.

If I only knew what God had in store for me, that valley might not have seemed so deep.

As each day passed I got to spend more time with Heidi Jo Post and soon enough, we became roommates. She would be the only roommate I had for the rest of my college career.

We've been through break-ups together, loss of loved ones, hurtful friendships, challenges in our own friendship, meeting her husband, the following proposal and engagement (which Joe was kind enough to include me in arranging some details) and their wedding. We have walked through struggles in ministry, in our families, as well as the unbelievable joy of welcoming two precious boys into this world.

Which just makes me smile, laugh, and simply have to blog about something Heidi and I used to ALWAYS say in college.

Every time we would see a little boy, just being a boy (but embarrassing his mother never-the-less) we would say, "That is reason #32947 why you don't have boys."

Or someone would tell a horror story about how their little boy beat up some kid in Sunday school, we would follow that with, "Reason #203949 why you don't have boys."

So wouldn't you know God blessed Joe and Heidi with two little boys.

And you know what?

Heidi is the perfect mom for little boys. (Even if it wouldn't be what she might have chosen, or not, those boys are lucky to have her!) She could have gotten worked up when about two minutes before we loaded in the car to go meet Jamie her oldest little boy was covered in mud. She could have scolded him, yelled, fussed, or squashed his little adventure-seeking heart, but she didn't. She just changed his clothes, tried to get the mud off (I mean he was covered!) at least until she ran out of wipes!!!, and put the other clothes out on the line to dry.

He will never remember that moment, but I happen to believe that it is moments like that moment where mothers begin to lay a foundation of manhood in their little boys. When they allow them to work with their hands, get covered in mud, and feel the passion flowing through their veins when they taste adventure, these moments build up the desire God has already placed in their hearts.

And so today, all you mothers of little boys, be encouraged. Even when you have thrown away yet another pair of shorts muddied beyond help, or you clean that mud covered toy yet again, or you are looking at ALL that food under the table and wondering "Why, oh why do they have to use their own silverware?!??!?", remember God is using these moments to write on the heart of your little man. He is using you to raise a Godly man who will change the world around him.

And Ho Jo, keep loving those little boys into the men God created them to be. You and Joe are doing such an amazing job!