I step outside into the sunshine and feel my tension begin to melt away. My senses are flooded with the beauty of God’s creation. The tears begin to flow as I say good-bye to our little home in the woods. I’ve grown so much closer to my Creator here, but this place belongs to someone else now.

Our children have sacrificed their most prized possessions. They’ve given up their pony, rabbits, sheep, llama, cat, and hardest of all, their faithful old dog, Jake. They’ve given up their garden, the creek, the wildflowers, and the forest playground God has blessed them with.

As I lie in the shade gazing up at the gorgeous bright leaves fluttering against the backdrop of a clear blue sky, I ponder the question, “Why leave? Why give this all up?”

Then I am humbled as I remember what Jesus left for me. He gave up all of heaven, lived a life of poverty, endured hardships, suffered the weight of my sins, separation from the Father, humiliation, and the pain of the cross, and then He gave His life. What gift of gratitude can I give to Him? What does Jesus value most? People! So the best gift I can give Him is my own heart, my will, and then to seek the lost for Him through His power. The words and melody of an old hymn float through my mind. “I gave, I gave my life for thee. What hast thou given for me?”

• Twitter