Capturing the Teachable Moment

   When I was in college studying to become a teacher, the phrase I hear over and over again was “Capture the Teachable Moments”.  The idea is that if you can get kids interested and invested in a topic, they will learn more.  When things happen that are outside the lesson plan but can be used to promote learning, then deviate from the plan and capture the moment.  We were taught to consciously look for those moments in our classroom.

   While it seems like it’s only yesterday that I was in college, the years have come and gone.  I’ve gotten married.  I’ve lived in and visited a number of continents and countries.  I now have three kids that call me, Mom.  Those days of looking for the teachable moments in the classroom are gone.  But God has been touching my heart and reminding me that I have three precious little ones to care for daily.  Those teachable moments are in my own home and can be used to point my children towards Him.  He has been reminding me to look for the teachable moments and capture them.

   Last week, my children and I were in South Africa staying at a guesthouse for missionaries while my husband flew to Lesotho to do an engine change on one of our planes.  This was the first time that I had ever been in South Africa by myself with all three kids.  To say that I was a little nervous, would be an understatement.  We have visited South Africa as a family many times, but it’s so different when you are family verse a single parent.  But I knew it was for the best and I was thankful we were at a safe place in South Africa, so I put a brave face on and started the week. 

Looking down the driveway to the place we stayed.  There are a number of houses and guest rooms among the trees.

   South Africa is the land of plenty compared to Mozambique.  There are a number of things one can buy here that you can’t buy in Mozambique.  Since there were things we needed to buy to take back, shopping was on my “to do” list.  The kids and I had been out shopping for a couple of hours that afternoon.  We had decided that for supper we would stop at McDonalds (a very special treat we only get in South Africa).  We had finished shopping for the day and were getting ready to go for supper, when I realized that I didn’t have my phone.  I also realized that if we were to have supper in town and then drive back, I would be driving in the dark, in an unfamiliar country, without a phone to call for help if I needed it.  There was nothing about that which made me comfortable.  So I realized, we needed head directly back to where we were staying and skip McDonalds.

   You can well imagine how that was perceived by the three little ones in the back.  I tried to explain but to them, well… it seems as though I wasn’t being fair.  It seems that I was lying because we had a change of plans.  I firmly told them that for our safety, we needed to go home but we would do our best to visit McDonalds the next day.  We arrived home safely and I started supper while the kids raced outside to play.

   It wasn’t 30 minutes after we got home that a huge thunderstorm hit, complete with thunder, lightning, and lots of rain.  I started thanking God that we were at home and not out somewhere driving.  Then in that still small voice I heard, “Help my little children see how I’ve protected them today.”  I knew instantly that this was a “capture the teachable moment”.  So as the children looked out the window and watched the rain, saw the lightning, and heard the thunder, I reminded them of the fact that we were only home safe because Mommy had forgotten my phone.  God had protected us through me forgetting my phone.  

    When my son looked at me and declared, “Wow, God protected us by having you forget your phone. God is so good.”  I knew that I had gotten through.  What seemed like a hardship, missing McDonalds, was really God’s protection.  Since that day, the kids have chatted a number time about how they didn’t know that God was protecting us by a forgotten phone, but He was.  They are also very diligent at making sure I have my phone every time we go out now. J

  It’s been a good reminder to me to remember to always to be looking for the “teachable moments” for my kids to help the see that God is part of our daily lives.  He cares about us deeply and is with us all the time.  He is a God who takes time out of His busy schedule to care for each of us personally.  How about you?  What teachable moments have God given you in your life?

One of the sunsets, we enjoyed while in South Africa.  Reminding me again of God's love and creativity.

Can you praise ME in the storm?

  The last two months have been a whirling of activity for the Hertzler family.  We have traveled over 22,000 miles.  The beginning of February found us in South Africa visiting an asthma/allergy specialist for Justin and Kayla.  We are encouraged by our interaction with the doctor and have started a few new approaches to helping the two kids deal better with their asthma and allergies.  While we waited for the medications to be filled (since we needed 6 months worth it took a number of days), we decided to visit a game reserve. 

   We have lived in Africa for over 4 years and have never been to a game reserve.  We have never seen the animals that Africa is famous for in the wild.  So we headed off to a small game park.  On the way, we were required to take a very long detour due to rioting and car burning.  Thankfully God went before us and kept us safe.  We greatly enjoyed our time visiting the park and seeing the amazing animals that God had created in their natural element.

    Then it was on to the USA, where Conrad headed to Head Quarters for 2 ½ weeks of training and the kids and I headed to Iowa to see family.   Our time was filled with doctor appointments, fun time with cousins, holding the brand new baby nephew, hanging with friends and family, and doing some shopping.  Then the kids and I packed up and travelled to Delaware, were we meet Conrad and spent the next week with family and friends there.  Then Conrad flew back west for another two weeks of training and the kids and I returned to Iowa to finish doctor appointments, pack, and say good-byes.

    It was during those last two weeks when our life took an interesting turn.  I had been to a dentist appointment and was on my way back home when the friend who was watching my kids called and said that Alissa hurt her foot.  When I arrived, Alissa refused to put any weight on it and just kept crying saying, “It hurts, it hurts.”   Since we were past office hours, I decided to wait until morning and see how it was. 

   Morning came and she still refused to put anyway weight on it.  So as I was on my way to another appointment, I called the doctor to see if they could get us in.  Right before I called, I thought, “Lord, you know 1:00 pm would be a good time for me”.  I placed the call to the doctor’s office and the first time the reception asked “Would 1:00 work for you to come in?”  I couldn’t believe my ears and the voice of the Lord whispered to my soul, “Trust me, I’ve got it covered.”

  Upon returning home, getting Alissa ready, and back on the road again, doubts began to creep in.  What if it was broken?  My mind already was calculating how much changing tickets was going to cost us as in 4 days we were suppose to be boarding a plane back to Africa.  What if it’s not something that would be wise to go back to Mozambique while it heals or what if we need to make another trip to South Africa just to make sure it’s healed correctly?  As I’m driving along the interstate, my mind is racing and my heart is keeping up, anxiety is fighting to gain control.  At the moment, the song “I Will Praise You in This Storm” by Casting Crowns came on the radio.  The soft voice on the Lord broke though my worried mind and spoke gently to my heart and said “Can you choose to praise Me in the storm?” 

   Instantly, I knew I had a choice.  I could choose to praise no matter what the results.  Or I could choose to allow anxiety to take over me.  As I drove along the interstate, I made my choice.  I responded, “God, I choose to praise You in the storm.  This makes no sense to me as my plate already feels fuller than I think I can handle but I CHOOSE to praise You for what You are doing.”

    The next 4 hours were full of doctor appointments, x-rays, phone calls, waiting, and finely a boot with crutches.  Yes, Alissa fractured/broke her foot in three places.  But the most amazing thing happened.  The location of the fracture couldn’t have been better, just slightly forward or slightly backwards, the foot would have had to been cast.  We would have needed to have follow-up x-rays and traveling would have been very difficult.  Instead, we were told, traveling is fine.  The Dr said that she was to wear the boot and when she is ready to try to put weight on it, she is welcome to walk on it.  When the six weeks is up, as long as there isn’t pain, she should be good to go.  Because of her age, where the break was, and the amazing goodness of God, we were able to travel back with no problems.  Now less than three weeks after the break, she is running around on the boot like nothing happened.

   God has such a sense of humor because of her injury, we were able to receive medical assistance through the airports.  It was the fastest trip through customs, immigration, passport control, and across airports that we have ever had.  The trip went so smoothly that I joked with the kids who wanted to break their foot next time so it would be an easy trip.  But more than that, I got to stand back and listen to my 8 year old tell someone how good God is because even though she had a broken foot, it was broken at just the right place that she was able to travel and God has been taking care of her. 

    For me the choice to praise God in the middle of the storm, was a hard one.  In this storm, I got the privilege to see right away how God had gone ahead and prepared the path.  I had the opportunity to see how when the situation didn’t make sense to me, God cares about the details of my life.  He had a plan and prepared the way.  But there are storms in my life that don’t seem to have quick answers.  There are storms that seem to go on forever.  The Lord has been speaking to my heart and saying “Heidi, can you praise me in these storms too?”  It’s a choice.  Sometimes praise is an easy outpouring but other times it’s a sacrifice.  It’s releasing the situation to God and saying “I don’t know what You’re doing but I choose to praise YOU for WHO You are.  I choose to praise You because I know You have the best in store for me.  I choose to praise You.” 

   So what storms in your life is God asking you to CHOOSE to praise Him.  He is the all-knowing, all-powerful God of the universe.  But more than that, He cares deeply for each person.  He desires that we would choose to praise Him in the storm and then stand back and see what He does to calm the storm.