We say banana; he says banahna.
Tomato, tomahto; banana, banahna.
But we're not calling this whole thing off.
A couple of months ago, we signed the boys up for British Soccer Camp. The World Cup had added to the soccer hysteria in our house until it was nearly at a breaking point. When it was over, it was like the after-Christmas blues. Thankfully, the boys had the end-of-summer soccer camp to look forward to and that cheered them.
A week before the camp was to begin, we received a call from the company asking if we'd be willing to host the coach. I was hesitant. I love to have people over, but I wasn't sure about having a complete stranger living in my home for a week. And a college-aged one at that. I tend to live cautiously, guarding what is mine . . . my feelings, my friends, my family. My husband and boys with their bigger, wide-open hearts were excited at the prospect, so I agreed. With reservation. And hoped for a girl.
He wasn't. (Even though he was willing to wear pink wings for the kids.)
In one too-short week, we all fell in love with our coach. We laughed at miscommunication (who knew English could be so difficult and different-but-the-same?), we learned from each other, and we made a new friend. So now pieces of our hearts are driving around the Midwest finishing up a job and soon to fly across the Atlantic. We're hoping for a friendship that lasts across an ocean and years.
And I'm thankful for the lesson I learned from my family: An open door to a house can open a door to a heart.
Above all, love each other deeply . . . Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. ~ 1 Peter 4:8-10
An endless list of gifts continued #168 - 185:
a new lesson learned
reward for risk
a new friend
enlarged hearts
a sad goodbye means we care
Lots Of Laughs
cool drinks when summer is the hottest
watching my boys learn
. . . and love
. . . and have fun
learning new English -- ice lollies, banger and mash, bobbles and flat batteries
my dad can jump a car
. . . and another
a tour around a Midwestern zoo guided by a Brit
new soccer games
a home to offer hospitality
a God whose love throws doors wide open
forever
