5-3-20 Front Row Seat

Quote: “You can choose to live in the front row or the third row.”

This picture’s caption is just perfect.  I still cannot stop laughing at the differences in the faces between the front row ladies and the third row ladies!

Which one are you more prone to say?  “Let’s play it safe, just in case!” or “Let’s go for it – let’s take a chance!”  My husband can attest that I am definitely a sit on the roller coaster in the front seat kind of girl.  But I haven’t always been that way.  Many times, fear keeps me from trying new things, meeting new people, and making big moves.  The word “safe” actually makes me feel safe just saying it.  I love predictable things like routines, seasons, and loyal friends.

But something happened when I became a boy mom times 3.  These boys are teaching me to look at life very differently.  “Let’s not just look at it, let’s climb it!” my little blue eyed monster child Logan would say.  “Let’s play this song in front of the church together, like a real Mommy and son duet!” my brown eyed mini-me Carter would say.  “As soon as this last song of the concert is over, let’s run through the park as fast as we can and ride one more coaster!” my brave tween Brady would say.  They love pushing me outside of my safety zone and helping me experience life to the fullest.  Kids have a way of doing that to us, don’t they?

I have been pleasantly surprised by how much fun it is to try new things and meet new people.  Heck yes it’s scary.  Especially when you know there’s a chance it could go south!  But what if one little step ends up changing your life?  What if it leads to opportunities you could never have imagined?

I’d love to tell you about a conversation that changed my life.  I was on my 3rd mission trip to Guatemala.  There was a man there, Luis, that I’d gotten to know over the years.  We had many conversations over the years riding on boats, sitting in vans, going on walks.  The wisdom he shared with me during those times are words I will always cherish.  One hot mosquito-y night, he said, “Daniela, when are you going to jump in and be all in for Jesus?  You are so afraid to jump in.  You have one toe in the water but you are so afraid to just go in.  Make a splash.  Don’t worry about what others think.  You do what God tells you to do.  Life will be so much easier and so fun once you just jump in.  You were never meant to sit on the shore.”

I was actually kind of offended at first.  I was going all in!  I was reading the Bible more.  I was having a ladies Bible study in my home.  I was going to church.  I was going on mission trips.  Good gracious – what else did I have to do to be all in?!

But what he was trying to say was that having a faith isn’t just about what we “do”.  It’s about what’s going on in our heart.  Our relationship with God should be the most important relationship we have and drive everything we go to do.  (Yes, that means God ahead of our kids and our spouses.)  If we’re just “doing” good things, then we aren’t really all in.  If we’re putting our hands and muscle and body into good things, but our heart isn’t in it, then we’re only half in.  God doesn’t want robots.  He wants a relationship.

And wow do I love to tell others about our relationship, the one that has changed my life!  He is the one who gives me the strength, the energy, the courage, the wisdom, the discernment, and the excitement for life.   Jesus says in John 10:10, “…I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly.”  I imagine him saying this with his arms raised in excitement!  I vow to spend the rest of my life exploring every nook and cranny of every new trail, park, campground, river, cave, mountain, or jungle I can with as many new people I can until I’m called home.

He loves you and I so much.  And he wants us to live a front seat, fantastic, fun, and FULL life!