Problem Solved

A while back, Notorious, being the verbal child that he is, began telling me that he has a feeling in his heart sometimes, like he has done something wrong, but he hasn't. You know that feeling. Anxiety, some people feel guilty for no reason. I struggled with this as a child, not so much as an adult but many people in our family do and oh, friends, my heart just sank. What DO I say to such a little thing as to how to deal with anxiety. First thing that popped in my head, what any sane mother would do, CALL BFF!! Fairy is her name around our house. She and bffdh are the littles godparents, fairy godmother, thus Fairy. Fairy struggles with this issue all the time, I knew she would know what to do. Plus her dad is a preacher so I figure pk's and mk's know more than regular Christ Followers so there is that to boot. Fairy wisely advises me to find a verse, a one liner, for him to memorize. Teach him to train his mind, like I am teaching him to train his body regarding healthy food and/vs unhealthy food. Of course. Right.
Today on the way to school, I told Notorious what Fairy had said. And that we would look and find just what God wanted to say to his heart when he got home this afternoon. A few moments of silence and he pipes up. "I know. I learned it at Keystone. I choose to follow God. When I feel that feeling in my heart, I will choose to follow God's peace."
There you have it folks. And a little child shall lead them. Out of the mouths of babes...
Let me further say that I love Keystone. It is beautiful both the building and the people, but so so real. Brandon amazes us EVERY single week. He is prepared and eloquent, yet so right there in the thick of the down and dirty of what life is like for him and his family, that he just totally speaks to me every. single. week. Amazing.
Then you take his wife. Who is crazy beautiful. Who sat in the mother's lounge with me and chatted while our month apart babies ate, just regular girl talk. It was weeks before I figured out, omg, that is "the pastor's wife". Never had stigmas about her because she just is who she is. Happens to be amazing but mostly real. I love her for that.
THEN, you take all the precious and approachable people who go there. Lots of families with more than two kids, sweet and cool and educated women and moms. A handful of the older and wiser who pour into us younger mamas making our way. And such a sweet camaraderie of people who really live life together.
At first it may appear "cliqueish" but really, it is a conglomeration of people who have community, transparency and accountability, who have gone and are going through the thick and thin of life together, and what looks like a clique is really a group of life lovers and, as we say in our house, there's always room for one more.
I love Keystone because they don't just entertain my children, they FILL them with life and God's principles for living. They give them tools, practical tools, to navigate their way as Christ followers. They influence and reiterate what we teach and do at home. They IMPACT our kids for God and really show them His heart for each of them. They learn what is true and right and good and it comes out of their hearts and out of their mouths.
Today, Notorious helped solve his own problem because Keystone did more than entertain him while Pompey and Martha had grown up time. They have changed the course of his life and what could be a lifelong problem, he has been empowered to trust and choose God.
Thanks Keystone.