Called from birth?

I learned something new about myself this week.

     On the eve of my 30th birthday on Wednesday, in typical motherly-fashion, my mom recalled all the traditional stories surrounding my birth.  She told of my swift entrance into the world and the emotional whirlwind she was thrown into when the delivery doctor announced that it was probable I had Downs Syndrome.

All these stories I had heard before, but what I hadn't ever heard was this:  upon receiving the news that I would most-likely live my whole life with a disability, my mother pleaded with the Lord to take away this burden. ..even if it cost me being called to be a missionary! The prayer went something like this, "Lord, I don't know if I can handle this.  Please take this disability away.  You can even take her to the 'mission field', just don't let her have Downs."  This news has touched my heart in a unique way. How ironic that 30 years after my mom prayed that prayer, I am preparing to move to New Zealand for missionary service. 

      It's interesting how the Lord will take you up on an honest offer and place before you a great opportunity to be obedient! (That's one way of looking at it. :-)  It is almost as if having your child called to be a missionary is the 'worst- case-scenerio' for a mother- sending your child far away to an unknown place among unknown people for an unknown length of time.

  It is in fact a beautiful, yet dreaded privilege.

      I had always thought that I was called to be a missionary at age 8 and chose to answer 'yes' to God's call at age 17, but in fact the Lord had graciously called me to a destiny of cross-cultural ministry before I even took my first breath.  Of course it is always my choice if I want to be obedient and follow the Lord toward the destiny He has for me; for His will is always "good, pleasing, and perfect."   The quest is on  . . .