A Changing Heart…

This is one of the most awesome pictures to date of God’s
power and perfect to represent what He can do in a heart.

Our oldest stayed back in the States with his grandparents for what turned into nearly two months after we returned at the end of April. The time he received was both a gift and a reward from his father. Life changed drastically for both him and us while apart. I prayed for only good to come of our separation and I believe that prayer was answered beyond my expectations.

I believe moving to Guatemala was the most difficult for Mickey. He had to leave behind 15 years of the best life a kid could grow up with. He moved to a country where he had no desire to make his own. He had no desire to learn the language even though everyone told him it would be an awesome asset to be bilingual. He missed his friends something awful. I knew his pain. He felt trapped with a lack of freedom he was accustomed to. Having acres and acres to roam as he wished to a small house with no yard and no freedom to wonder drove the boy/man crazy. If God had not burdened our hearts heavily with keeping him with us, it would have been easy to let the trapped bird fly back home shortly after we first arrived in Guatemala. He never let a day go by without his comments. It got to the point where Britt just had to tell him he could no longer talk about it, because it was bringing us all down.

My 3 oldest presidents

With time and the change of moving out to Buena Vista where there was more outdoor space and convenience to make friends with the Spanish-only-speaking staff, Mickey began to adapt to the culture. He quickly picked up the language. But there was always that tension with him longing to be back with his roots. I really felt sorry for him. But I knew God would have to do the work on his heart and there was nothing we could say that would make a difference.

There was a rather heated discussion between Britt and Mickey, after the decision was made for us to return to the States for a visit and to finalize the sale of our house. They came to an agreement that if Mickey met a list of requirements, he would be rewarded with an extra month in the States after we returned. However, our stay turned into two months with the passing of Grandma Lowery and the delay on the house sale. Yet, Mickey was still granted an additional month stay.

On our end, while he was back enjoying his independence, we moved 40 minutes away from our life in Buena Vista to a new life here in Jocotenango. We became surrounded by a whole different group of people. The climate changed. The places we went changed. Our neighbors changed. Our daily responsibilities changed. Life moved on without him.

But, God was doing a work on our boy without us there. Just like we prayed.

For many months before we took our trip to the States, Mickey had been pursuing a trip to Montana. Yak, Montana was his mental picture of Heaven. He spent hours doing research, which he daily informed us what he learned. But God had other plans for him then a visit to Montana. Something even better.

While in the States, Mickey participated in a bike race
where he won 1st place in his division.

When his impending return grew closer, Mickey asked if he could stay long enough for his cousin’s high school graduation. This postponed his return another two weeks. We could handle that. Not long after that, he decided to ask us to just stay on the whole year. We knew that was coming. He had his list of reasons, all valid and great. But we knew God wanted him back here with us for his last year. Britt has felt that strongly from before we moved here.

Our dear friends, Mark and Angie Kelly purchased tickets to come visit at the end of June. The practicality of Mickey returning with them was only logical. This added another 10 days to his stay. But these were 10 days that I believe became the instrumental days for his time away from us. This was the time when we all really started missing that boy.

During those last few weeks, Mickey received an irreplaceable opportunity to drive down to New Mexico packed in a car with 4 other godly men to work on a cattle ranch. It was an experience that he never could have planned for Yak, Montana. During that trip, God did a work on him that changed him in a way that will change the course of his entire future. He was also able to attend our church’s youth retreat during that last week.

When our boy returned, he was noticeably different…changing into a man with qualities I’ve always prayed for him. Who would have known it would take two months separation from us to accomplish this in him.

It’s the little things that a mama notices. It’s the way that he treats his little brothers that once were a bother, obnoxious and a nuisance. It’s taking the six year old on a bike ride without a second thought. It’s the not being annoyed by the constant shadow of that same six year old. And the constant questions that used to annoy. It’s carrying him on his back when his legs get tired. It’s holding the five-year-old’s hand while on a family outing in Antigua, with a protective care that never existed before. It’s the not complaining when asked to do simple tasks. It’s not hearing one complaint about the deficiencies of a country not his own. It’s being hesitant about getting his own room away from the rest of the family, when that used to be a daily request. It’s just a lot less complaining, reflecting a heart of contentment and thankfulness.

I’ve realized how evident a changed heart reflects in one’s actions. It cannot be denied. It warms a mom’s heart compared to nothing.

I love you Britton McKinley Harman. I’ve come to realize through you that it’s absolutely nothing I can do to “raise a president”. But it’s all God. All I could do and can continue to do is to pray. God does the rest.