In 2007, God moved us more than 3,000 miles away from our family and everything familiar. Since then, it has seemed rather ironic that in order to help bring marriages and families together, we must be apart from our own. No one one told me about this when I signed up for God’s mission. Or, did they?

Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:61-62

Over the past several days, there have been three separate crises in our extended family and honestly, everything in me wants to pack up my missionary marbles and go home.
However, Jesus’ words in the above passage pierce my heart. If a farmer looked back while he was plowing, he would not be able to keep the furrows straight for planting his seed.

Crooked furrows didn’t cut it for service in Jesus’ day and they don’t work when you’re out to discover God’s mission for your marriage either. Hand to the plow, people. Hand to the plow.