Five of my grandchildren just returned from summer church camp, spiritually renewed and excited about what God is doing in their lives. As I write these words, another grandson is inflight to Panama on a Mission Trip. I dearly love all 21 of my grandchildren and great grandchildren. I pray for them daily, first that each one will come to know Jesus as their personal Savior and then surrender themselves to the Lord for direction in every decision in their lives. Proverbs 3:5-6 speaks so plainly of the importance of that trust for direction. The unguided use of the gifts that God has given to each of them would be such a sad commentary. They may never grow up to be a Michael Angelo or a Billy Graham - or to “bend it like Beckham” - for that matter. But I pray that to follow the leadership of the Lord in all things will be their paramount goal.

Thomas Gray’s “Elegy Written in a Country Church Yard” has a verse that reads,

“Full many a gem of purest ray serene,
The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear:
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste it’s sweetness on the desert air”.

Not knowing the will of God or not following His plan for our lives would be like a beautiful flower blooming in a desert, never too be seen or never to be enjoyed.