Golden

I hope this doesn’t sound like bragging. But really, that’s up to you. If you hear my heart through my words it is obvious. I’m not bragging. God is so big. In my family, he is so big.

Our family has been knit together. Piece by piece. Exactly as God intended. Our youngest 3, Chey, Collin and Alexa, had a life before us. Their perspective is fascinating. They don’t miss a thing.

I often find myself in the middle of the most random conversations. I’m sure you can relate. But with my little 3 in particular there are some doozies. Last week Collin said (in the sweetest way and out of nowhere), “Mom, when I am a dad I hope I don’t have a child who is born with no arms.” I said, “If God gives you a child with no arms He will equip you for that. You would be a great dad to that sweet child.” Then Collin said, “Yeah. And I could take him mountain-biking. I could get one of those little trailers and pull him behind my bike. I will just make sure not to go over any jumps. Because he won’t be able to catch himself.” I can’t even. So sweet. That precious boy is trying to figure it out. He has taken in a lot in the last 2 years. What it is to be the brother of a child with special needs. What it is to be a family of 7. What it is to be a family at all. How a good dad is a dad in a unique way to each of his children. How a godly marriage functions. How God is holding us all in the palm of His hand.

Yesterday Alexa and I ran some errands together. She was talking about being rich. Ok. Seriously. She talks nonstop. So, she doesn’t always get my full attention. But, at some point, I realized I better turn on 100% attention mode. She was talking about how we, our family, are rich. “We are rich because we have so much love for each other. We are golden.”

We really are golden. We are living in the full light of our Lord and his immense and intense love for us. We have so much love for one another. And it is growing and growing.

Ryan is the leader of our home. First, he loves the Lord. Above all else he loves the Lord. Just a few days ago he and Silas were standing in the kitchen talking after the others were in bed. Ryan literally began weeping as he talked about Jesus and what He did for us on the cross. He is in the Word, deeply and daily. He looks at life through the lens of Scripture. Second, he loves me. He loves me every single day. He thinks I am the actual best. He only has eyes for me. We will be married 19 years this summer. He has given me every reason to trust him. I never worry about where he is or what he is doing. He does everything he can to protect his mind and heart from this world and stay devoted to me. He serves me. Not just when he has a minute, but daily, sacrificially. He cherishes me. Third, he loves each of our Fabulous 5 in the best way he can. In ways that are meaningful to each of them. Daily and sacrificially. Just this week he spent time with each of them individually doing what they enjoyed. And as they change, or as he learns them better, he adapts. He does not take for granted his leadership of our home.

Children need a father. They need a father who loves the Lord. They need a father that loves their mother. They need a father that loves them. And a father who does all of it daily and sacrificially. The security that combination provides cannot be overstated. The evidence… Cheyenne, Collin and Alexa. They all went from being children of chaos, turmoil and uncertainty to being children of peace, love and security. Further evidence… Caleb and Silas. Boys who know what it is to be loved deeply and what it is to love deeply. For all of our Fabulous 5 the expectation is clear. They have a real life example of a godly father and husband. Our boys are to be that and our girls are to look for that.

The Atkinsons really are golden. I am so grateful to the Lord for His provision of leadership in our home. We must shine our light for Him.

Sidenote: As I was just about to click “publish” on this post Ryan came in the room after returning from Ingles. He surprised me with a Starbucks chai tea latte and a shrimp tray for Chey. Just because. Because he thought of us. He is always thinking of us. Classic Ryan.