By Jennifer Sanders
songwriter, caramel entrepreneur

“Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:15

What does it mean to receive the kingdom of God like a little child?

About 6 years ago, our family of six made a daring decision to find out.  Little did we know, the search for this “pearl” of discovery would involve a great price.

We were living a well-planned, safe life that was “just right”. My husband, Aaron, had a good job that provided well for our family, and he was the assistant pastor at our church.  I was a happy and content stay-at-home momma to our four children, and I served as the worship pastor at our church.  Our kiddos went to a small private school, and we had a lovely home in the suburbs of Wisconsin. Picture perfect.

Then, God asked us to walk away from our picture perfect life.

We had a choice to stay in the comfort zone of our predictable existence, or choose an unknown “something” He was calling us to experience.  It would mean doing something radical, without a clear plan or understanding of what the outcome would be.  It would mean moving 700 miles away to Nashville, Tennessee, with no job lined up, and knowing only one friend in the area.  It would mean a new start for our children, in a new school across the country, leaving behind their friends and all that was familiar.

Aaron and I knew we didn’t want this to be a “mom and dad’s walk-with-God” decision, especially since we did not have a clear plan or job waiting for either one of us in Tennessee.  The only clear plan we had was knowing that if we sold our home in Wisconson, we’d have enough financial cushion to provide for a year-long home lease in order to find our bearings, in whatever new thing God was calling us to do in Nashville.

So, we determined to make it a family decision.  If we were going to choose this “God adventure,” we would choose it together as a family because this was not just mom and dad’s story. It was our children’s story, too.

Each decision we made was made together as a family, with everyone “all-in”, in unanimous agreement or not at all.   Whenever we felt like God was leading us in a certain direction, we would sit the kiddos down and talk about it.  Then we would ask them to pray, and we’d meet again in a couple of days if they needed the time to process and decide.  When Aaron and I would pray, we’d say, “God, if at any point, any of our children are not OK with continuing with this “adventure”, then we will pack up and go back to Wisconsin.”

In the realm of the logical, after making the move there were plenty of reasons to give up this “adventure” and return to Wisconsin.

For starters, Aaron was unable to secure a job despite being well qualified with years of experience for the many dozens of resumes he sent out.  Then, an unexpected turn of events with a financial investment left our family literally penniless and homeless, ultimately living in our van for well over a year.  Last but not least, my husband’s former Wisconsin employer contacted him to offer his old job back more than once.

We were even offered a place to stay for free back in Wisconsin, which was very tempting considering we were now living in our van!

At each and every twist in our story, we would talk with our kids and ask their opinions.  We just knew that we knew God was using this journey, and all of its challenges, to deepen our faith in Him.  He was stripping away every remnant of things we once depended on.  Somehow, even at their young ages of 10, 12, 14 and 15, our kids knew it, too. 

And guess what?  It was our children’s faith that helped us parents experience “faith like a child.”  Even as our time living in our van stretched from weeks to months, then to 1 – ½ years, their faith never wavered.  Were they comfortable?  No.  Did they love it?  Big fat NO!  But, we were able to talk every single night as a family about what God was doing and what He was teaching us.  And He was teaching us MUCH.

Sometimes, Aaron or I would confess to the kids that we were tired and wanted to walk away from it all…just go back to the familiar where we knew a paycheck and a place to live was waiting.

But our amazing kiddos would point out all the things that God WAS doing in our lives and encourage us to just hold on!  Through the kindness and generosity of wonderful people, every month we would end up with “just enough” to pay for our food and living essentials.  We would end up with “just enough” to go the YMCA for recreation and showers, and to have a place to sit down and help the kids do their school homework.  “Just enough” to wash our clothes at the laundromat, and then lay our heads down to sleep in our van, and wake up to face one more day.  Just like a child follows their father in blind trust, so our children were hearing our Father’s heart for our family and following after Him, even when it didn’t make sense to us grown-ups.

So, where are we now?

We don’t have a big “ta-dah” ending to this faith adventure yet.  But we do have solid footing beneath our feet.  We have trust in our heavenly Father’s provision.  Aaron now has a job providing consistent income, and he also has a “Kingdom Coaching” business to pour into others the wisdom he has learned from our unique journey of true, day-by-day dependence on God.  Our children are thriving, healthy and happy, and they have an appreciation for the home we now live in that is rare for children to have in our abundant, American world of more-than-enough.

As for me, I’ve put my love for making homemade caramels into a business that my amazing husband helps me run, with our kiddos pitching in on occasion.  What more joy could an adventure bring than stepping into “sweet” new passions with childlike faith, and learning “faith like a child” from our own children?

We have found our Pearl of Great Price!

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” -  Matthew 13:45, 46

“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.  For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.” - Philippians 3:8

About Jennifer Sanders

Jennifer Sanders is a songwriter, blogger, wife, and caramel-making momma. Follow Jenn and her family at Sanders Family Adventures, and treat yourself to her amazing Kola Reina Caramels now available at farmers markets and festivals! Instagram and Facebook: @kolareinagourmetcaramels