How Sweet it is: A Transition Time for SOS

Both of my older brothers have left home for college before, giving me an opportunity to go through family dynamic change during that transition. But this year it has been different. No sibling has left home this year,  so it hasn't been as painfully different.

Last night the old faithful SOS girls had a sleepover..I guess you could say our last one before the older girls (we call them the excluding exorcists) leave for college. 

Bittersweet is an understatement for how it was. As we sat and laughed, we looked at our photo books that Mama D (Deanne) had made us.  We went through every fundraiser, event, and meeting, marking in our books quotes and memories that we had made. What a journey. 

Remembering every prayer time we had before every event. When God was slowly covering us with protection by the prayer warriors that so valiantly served us. Faithfully giving their prayers. 

Remembering every laugh that we shared, every embarrassing moment that those girls got to experience (haha). 

Remembering every tear that was shed, from our burdened hearts, to a personal situation...all of us holding each other up as the body of Christ is supposed to.

Remembering the mamas that took ALL the pictures, drove us everywhere, and were always ready to say yes to whatever we needed...letting us follow our passions.

Remembering the CHURCH that stood up and encouraged young believers in their mission. Doing things that we couldn't do because of our age, or simply lending a helping hand.

Remembering every car ride that started at the crack of dawn.

Remembering every Bojangles visit, every spontaneous decision. 

But remembering that when we were 12, 13, and 14, we first had our talk about purity. Now, "sex talks" aren't exactly the most enjoyable things for pre-teen/teenagers. It's awkward and all the moms are all over your case about not having sex, being modest, protecting your hearts..but I remember going through this and learning about God's design for not only sexual purity, but emotional, and spiritual purity as well; ALL with these 5 girls. At THIS point in time, God began to put so much intentionality on purity in our hearts collectively, and this was one of the reasons that we started SOS.

We were burdened with the idea that some girls' purity are literally stripped from them. That some girls around the world don't even have the choice to stay pure until marriage. So why would we CHOOSE to throw that away? We began to see the importance of purity, and why God designed it the way that He did. 

Throughout high school, we continued growing in our relationships with each other, but also with the Lord. Having ourselves refined by each other. And in the midst of that, we dealt with boyfriends, crushes, and flings. 

This didn't hit me until this morning as we were all gathered around massive cups of coffee, and piles of bibles. As Mrs. Julie (a serious prayer warrior and wonderful mother who has shepherded our heart in many ways), was praying over us, I realized what a journey it has been. 

We were talking about current guy situations that we all have, and how it's affecting us. We were discussing the hard ways to stay pure not just in body, but in mind. We talked about how God has given us desires and what the best way to carry them out looks like. 

But the picture that was painted in my mind this morning looked like this: 

HOW SWEET it is. To begin as middle schoolers that just want to crush on a boy. To walk through all of high school with sisters in Christ that love the Lord with all their hearts..leading by example. To share burdens and struggles. But how precious it is to END high school, and not only high school, but this chapter in SOS' life with a discussion on how we STILL desire to be pure in hearts, minds, and body. 

This is such a blessing. To be surrounded by sisters who spur me on towards love and good deeds, and who have my best interest at heart. Who have the same goals of protecting their own hearts as well as my own. To STILL seek to be pure in all aspects of life. And although we started that vision in middle school, it has grown and been carried out in these areas of my life now. 

My heart is so full right now...

We drank very many cups of coffee this morning and lifted up prayers as we send out half of our ministry into different areas of the USA. I am FULLY confident that God has big plans for the life of SOS. The Home, The camp land, The church in Moldova, The GIRLS. 

I cannot stop praising Him for His undeserved faithfulness to me and our ministry. I don't believe that I have ever seen His hand so evident as I see it in SOS.