Not too long ago, I preached at Pueblo Nuevo Community Church in El Paso where I was greeted by a young lady named Ana Elizabeth Edwards.

Years before, I had the privilege of performing the wedding ceremony and pre-marital counseling for her parents Marta Moran and David Edwards while I was a pastor at Pueblo Nuevo Community Church.

Ana presented me with a letter I wrote to her when she was born in 1997. Her mother had saved it for her and Ana came across it when she was looking through her scrapbook.

It was a personal note that I wrote to her and asked her parents to save it for her. It was a joy to see Ana all grown up into a 13-year-old young lady full of life and potential. She thanked me for the letter I wrote encouraging her to love the Lord, obey and honor her parents, and live by Proverbs 3:5-6.

I happened to share this with Marta Edwards, Ana’s mother, and she quickly explained how she grew up at Stahmann Farms, and how her father worked there for many years.

I was struck by the blessing of connecting three generations through the Edwards/Moran family and Stahmann Farms.

I came away from that experience with a few observations: First, we really do live in a small global village; second, you never know how serving others, even in small ways, will impact their lives years later; and third, God is faithful to honor his word and to bless those he loves, especially children.

Ana Elizabeth Edwards will be a strong and faithful agent of the Kingdom of God because her parents have raised her that way.

This is my dream for all the children the Lord places into our care.

Albert Reyes is the President of Buckner International.

Prayers for the week:
- God, help Buckner to have a strong positive impact in raising the children in our care to serve and love you and to reach their full potential in you.
- God, help all of us to remember that the children in our lives will one day grow up to be influential adults and help us give them the love and respect that they need.

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If you are interested in submitting a devotional for Buckner Faith Focus, please write to Jpope@buckner.org.

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