Do not be afraid!
Just Stand Still and
Watch....
Exodus 14:12
Funny that God should bring that particular verse to me now! Even funnier that I found it while searching for clipart for the girls’ church camp pictures! I read those words and goosebumps rose all over my arms.
This weekend was fraught with momma-typical worries: “What if I am not doing the right thing?” “What if this is not a good decision?” “How do I know that this is what we need to do?” But the answers were not to be mine. God had another very different plan!
The answers all came from my 12 year olds heart on a long drive home from Bible Camp. “Mom, I have prayed and prayed and I KNOW that I am to go back to LGA.” Tears streaming down her face, she shared how God has been speaking to her, how uncomfortable she is with crying over things close to her heart and how much she wants her talents to shine the Glory of God for those who watch her. She confided how God had shown to her that her actions speak even louder than her words. And she made it very clear that in her gymnast heart, she wants all to see WHO she serves by her competition out on the meet floor.
Shaye started gymnastics as a surprise session with a special friend one hot July. She was just 7. By December, they had invited her to be on their team. She has now progressed to an “optional” gymnast, as beautiful in spirit as she is in her perfectly toned body! Each level accomplished surpassing the last with it’s own roller coaster of weals and woes. She is starting a new adventure this week. Everything in my being tells me it is so. God has granted peace with each hard decision to make, from juggling work schedules around to telling the gym she is not coming back. He has even allowed some grace to be supplied by those who are not even aware they admonished gentle words of wisdom to this aching mothers heart.
I am so very confident in her ‘new’ coach and his ability to train her appropriately. I am even more confident in the coach-athlete relationship they share. But, I have to confess I have struggled with the decision to go out of Topeka for training; mostly because of the inconvenience of not having a gym nearby. As the mother of multiple children, I do not want to slight any one of them the much needed time with mom.
But, God prevailed. The needed decisions were made. The dates were set. His peace was found. And we’re off to a new start! Please pray with me for my very talented daughter. She will compete in the National Games in San Diego, CA in August 2011. In her heart of hearts, she wants so badly to shine there for Jesus! Pray that this will be so!
First meet ever! December 2006
Competing post broken arm #1 February 2007
Broken Arm #2, Performing beam routine at Intersquad Meet November 2007
Level 5 2007-2008 Season (post broken arm #2)
State Competition March 2008
- 1st Place All-Around January 2009
2nd Place Balance Beam, January 2009
Split Leap February 2010
Floor Routine State Competition March 2010
Back Layout State Competition March 2010
Beam run-through State 2010
Back Handspring on Beam State 2010
"Gripping Up" for Uneven Bars at State 2010
Giants on the high bar State 2010
