Day 158 Do You Feel Less, Part 2

 

6/7/2026

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 

'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, 

plans to give you hope and a future.'"

Jeremiah 29:11

 

Life can be very unpredictable. As young people we think we know what we want to do with our lives, but when it comes right down to it, how many people really stick to the initial plan. When I was young I had many dreams, but as I have mentioned before, I was not encouraged to pursue even the noblest of services. Even counselors at school didn't really express an interest in helping us chase a dream or direct us to a vocation. We were pretty much left on our own. Help with scholarships was offered, but only minimally, but then that's my experience, but when I asked some other friends, they had the same reaction as I did. I wish things had turned out better earlier in my life, but in His mercy God made certain that I gained the experience I would ultimately need. And He's been providing more and more education as the years progress. I have to laugh when I think about going back to college and finishing my graduate work, but then nothing is impossible, as I love to say. I happen to believe and trust in that knowledge.

Yesterday I finished my post with my own quotation: "One experience cannot compare to a lifetime of service." I was speaking of taking annual mission trips versus becoming a missionary, living in an area, daily serving others whether internationally or nationally. But those experiences are worth everything, and they can shape and prune your life forever. I had one mission trip to Belize in Central America back in the day when passports were not necessary for that part of the Americas. I was in the rain forest as part of a ministry trip to the Mayan Indians. I've written about my trip previously, as well as the ones made by my husband to another part of the world. I briefly mentioned that a friend's daughter was working with Youth With a Mission (YWAM) a ministry I connected with through weekly Bible studies for a season, but I was unable to join due to family issues. My continuous desire has been to serve on the mission field, and God did hear my heart. I was sent to Northern New Mexico to eventually work in the health care business. He took me on a circuitous journey, but everything He has taught me, regardless of hardships endured, has been worth it all. Most importantly, it was my mission field! I Many churches and ministries send missionaries to other countries, but we tend to forget all the needs that we have within our own nation.

The foster care system is so in need of help, and the children need parents who will love and support them. Our First Lady, Melania Trump is continuing her work previously started with the foster care program. Her new program, Fostering the Future, was presented at the 2026 United States Senate Spouses Luncheon in Washington, DC, she shared, "My initiative, Fostering the Future, is built on four community-centric pillars to support America’s youth." Those pillars are a strong education, love, inspiring career ambition, and resilience. She shared her heart that day, and she received 100% approval from those in attendance. She asked them one question: "If I could spare one heart from breaking, would you rise with me?" That question says it all!

While our First Lady is busy improving the lives of the foster care children, our Second Lady, Usha Vance hosted a family camp this past weekend to kick off the Summer Reading Challenge. The event was held at "Camp VPR" (Vice President's Residence), and the one day camp was held on the lawn of the Naval Observatory. 

"Children read books, colored, painted, played, and dug in a play garden as part of the launch of the second lady’s summer reading challenge. There was also a rock wall, a slip n’ slide, an inflatable obstacle course, an inflatable moon bounce, and face painting."

Vice President JD Vance and their three children participated in the event. The couple is expecting their fourth child, a son, who will be born in July. Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary, who is still on maternity leave after the birth of her daughter, also attended the event with her husband and son.

"The second family also partnered with the Department of Agriculture and local 4-H students to teach the campers about the new chicken coop installed on the property."

Each day is full of possibilities, divine appointments, fresh encounters. Nothing is ever really lost. Whereas I don't really like the expression "When one door closes, God opens a window," it does share hope. In Romans 8:28 Paul states that "All things work together for good for those who love God, to the called according to His purpose." The context in which this scriptures is taken is very important to consider. Paul is speaking about the suffering we go through as followers of Jesus Christ, as we await the glory of His coming. It speaks of God's everlasting love for us, and in verses 37-39 he lists how vast that love is for us.

"Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

He who created us in His image, and who sent His Son to die for us, and who put His Holy Spirit within us loves us beyond our imaginations! Every good and perfect gift comes from Him, and He has a plan and purpose for each one of us. We need never feel "less than" but we continue to strive to do our best in this world, taking advantage of every opportunity to serve others and bring Him glory. Encouraging children as our First and Second Ladies are doing is a really good place to begin! Our mission field is wide open in America, in our back yards, and beginning with our own families. We all have something to share with others, especially our dreams.