Kenna Grace

Kenna in Musanze, Rwanda this summer

Remember 7th grade?  Remember the discomfort of social pressure and trying to fit in?  Well, Kenna is having somewhat of a challenging 7th grade start.  She has made some wonderful friends this year and is loving her teachers, but that pesky homework has been a hassle and has made for some intense conversations between the two of us.  All that to say...in church Sunday night she announced that she had forgotten to do a Power Point that was, of course, due the next morning!  Grrr... Thankfully, my sweet and wise friend Gracie (she has two children older than Kenna) just looked at me and bit her tongue.  This was her very gracious way of saying, "Lay off Gretchen!"  We ended our conversation and headed for home so Kenna could begin what would be a VERY long night for her.

In the car on the way home she casually mentioned, that she wasn't going to be able to finish a Spanish project that is due this week as well.  Although I wanted to rant, I remembered Gracie's advice, and simply asked why without any scolding and was overwhelmed by Kenna's response.

"Well, Mom, our teacher wanted us to build an altar to Pablo Picasso for the Day of the Dead celebration and I just heard God telling me not to do that.  I am only supposed to build an altar to Him.  So, I told my teacher how I felt and asked if I could complete an alternative assignment.  I talked with a friend and she felt the same way and was just waiting for someone else to stand with her so she wouldn't have to talk to the teacher alone.  My teacher said she respected my position and will get back to me."

Wow, I was completely challenged by the Holy Spirit in my almost 13 year old.  Since Kenna was little she has always had an unusual sensitivity to the Spirit and how often I miss this beauty within her as I battle to make her focus on the earthly rather than the eternal...  As a 7th grader I was so much more concerned with being liked and pleasing others than I was with pleasing my Father.  But not Kenna...this is the kid in Kindergarten who, when asked what she wanted for Christmas, responded with, "That all over the world everyone would ask Jesus in their heart."  She has also led two of her friends to Christ on the playground and is very committed to her dream of running an orphanage in Africa.  As much as it pains me to admit it, I think it will be much easier for Kenna to passionately follow whatever the Lord has for her than it will be for me to let her go....  I love you, Kenna, and am so inspired by your confidence and obedience to the Lord.