ru·mi·na·tions: Latin ruminatus, past participle of ruminari to chew the cud, muse upon, from rumin-, rumen rumen; perhaps akin to Sanskrit romantha act of chewing the cud

Isn’t life interesting . . .

I’ve been blessed with three children. I’m proud of them all. But, the closest one to me at the moment is a mere 4600 miles away (Liberia, Africa). Another is 4600 miles away (Maui and stationed there by the Army — had I known that was possible, I would have joined!) and the third is 9300 miles away (Phnom Penh, Cambodia). One is adopting a child, one is attending a wedding and one is serving his country.

It’s my fault.

When the oldest was 2 I moved her almost 5,000 miles south, to Brasil. She’d charted more frequent flyer miles by 9 than most people would collect in a lifetime. The second and third were born in Brasil. They, too, accummulated impressive air time in just a few years.

Compressed cabin air must be in their blood. I hear it’s contagious.

I mentioned I’m proud of them. The reason for their travels? The oldest has a heart for the poor and oppressed. She went to Africa to adopt a 9 year old with a club foot because she cares. Number 2, also a girl, went to Cambodia to her sister-in-law’s wedding. The sister-in-law is a missionary and my daughter wants to show her that people really do care about her and her sacrifice. The baby (though its hard to use that term for a 21 year old who’s just gone through Special Forces training) is on his way to Maui. He’s in the Army, Airborne, and will spend his next two years serving in Hawaii. Though exotic sounding, once you realize that Maui is used as a staging area for Afghanistan, it casts a different light on the station.

God is good. He has a purpose for each of them. More importantly to me, they are slowly beginning to understand that and assume the responsibility for fulfilling that purpose. They may all be far from me, but the reason for the distances only makes them closer. I would die contented knowing that they are serving Him.

Maybe compressed cabin air should be pumped into some churches . . .