As I sit here 10 days after returning from our last trip and a week after coming down with Covid, I have plenty of time to reflect on it all—an entire month of going, coming, and preparing to go again.

First, we went to visit our older son, daughter-in-love, and three grandsons in W. Michigan for a week, staying at a nearby Christian Conference Ground. Six days later, we took off for a whirlwind three days with our younger son, daughter-in-love, and 5-week-old grandson, meeting him for the first time. Another six days after that, we were off to MFUGE, a missions/discipleship camp, along with 300 youth and other leaders.

Hopefully these observations will resonate with you and encourage you in your travels:

  1. It’s all good when done for a good reason— We all prefer some places to others, and naturally enjoy some experiences more than others. But with the right reason to go, we’ll always be glad we did.
  2. No cost is too great when the cause is greater— Trips cost something—time, energy, even money when we don’t have paid vacation. But the reward of the cause far outweighs any of that. It’s what I call the “for the sake of”. With it, we’ll give up and endure a lot. Without it, forget it. In our case, the “sake” was our kids, grandkids, and the blessing of participating in the Lord’s eternal impact on people’s lives (the community, youth, and peers).

Oh yeah—health too— my husband and I just tested positive for Covid two days after we returned from our youth-missions trip. Would I do it again? For all the impact and changed lives we got to be part of, definitely!

  1. No use comparing when loved ones are involved— People asking me “which trip was better, going to Michigan or Miami?” is like asking “which family members do you like better?”! If I didn’t have loved ones in either place, it would be a no-brainer where I’d rather spend time. People who know me well know I’ll choose God’s creation over urban surroundings every time. I’d much rather camp, kayak, hike, etc., than drive in traffic to hang out in the city. But—I totally enjoyed everything in both places! Because the people I love made it all so fun, and the reasons were all so good—spending time enjoying each other’s company. And yeah, lake, ocean, pool, it’s all good in summer.
  2. Unity and getting along are worth giving others what they ask for, as long as it’s not harmful. Besides, it’s biblical. Phil. 2:3-4 exhorts us to put others’ interests above our own. Not be like one friend’s daughter-in-law who always insists on her own way in every family gathering and travel. “With her, it’s ‘my way or the highway’”, so I don’t like to travel with her!” Let’s not be that person.
  3. No matter how tired we get after one trip, we’re ready for the next one when it’s something to look forward to— That’s what kept us “pumped” and packing between the trips to see our sons in two different places and then do the missions trip.
  4. When the Lord tells us to go, He’ll enable us to do what we’re going for— no excuses not to (“too old”, “too shy”, “not…enough”, etc.). No doubt we were the oldest youth leaders at MFUGE, but He made us “mount up with wings like eagles” and run, jump, play, and minister with His strength! (Is. 40:31).
  5. It’s hard for a wonderful time to end and have to come back, but we have to in order to have another wonderful time with other wonderful people! – That’s how we got to visit all our family and go on that mission trip.
  6. Make memories with loved ones while we’re together and treasure them in our hearts while we’re apart— It keeps the joy going ‘til we meet again.
  7. It beats sitting around and doing nothing.
  8. In the end, it really is better to live near loved ones—then we can see them more often with a lot less trouble to get to them!

Finally, but most important—thank Him for being Lord of the journey—both in travel and in life! Because He is both sovereign and good, His planning is perfect and best.

For example, in all our travels to see loved ones and do ministry, we didn’t catch Covid until after we returned from it all!

“ ‘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.’” Jer. 29:11

Keep traveling—for the best reasons, to and with loved ones, and enjoy what the Lord does in and through the journey!