1:30 AM, Funny T-shirts, and Jesus

I woke up at 1:00 a.m.

Not because I set an alarm.
Not because I needed to.
Just... because I’m a mom.

The house was quiet, that deep middle-of-the-night quiet where everything feels a little more emotional than usual. My son was getting ready to leave for the airport—heading out on a mission trip.

We had already done the “important” moment the night before.
We prayed over him.
I hugged him.
I did the whole “I love you, I’m proud of you, go change the world” speech.

But apparently, my heart wasn’t done.

So there I was at 1:00 a.m., half-awake, standing in the kitchen, helping him grab the last few things and sneaking in one more hug before he walked out the door.

Because sometimes... one more hug feels like a necessity, not a luxury.

And then—hours later—I get the first photo.

And I start laughing.

Because there he is...
At the airport...
Wearing the most ridiculous T-shirt I’ve ever seen.

Apparently, the team had this idea where everyone picked a name and had to bring a funny T-shirt for that person to change into at the airport and travel in.

His?

Flowers.
Ponies.
Rainbows.
And across the front it said:

“Iced coffee. No sleep.”

Which, honestly... felt a little too accurate for the moment.

Now—just to give you the full picture—my son is a pretty decent-sized football player.

So imagine that frame... in that shirt.

I’m sure he was thrilled. 😄

But here’s what I couldn’t stop thinking about after I stopped laughing:

He went.

Not in comfort.
Not in control.
Not in an outfit he would have chosen.

But he went anyway.

And isn’t that kind of how following Jesus works?

We love the idea of following Jesus when it looks meaningful, impactful, and maybe even a little impressive.

But a lot of the time?

It looks like saying yes when it’s inconvenient.
It looks like stepping out when you feel slightly uncomfortable.
It looks like obedience... even when you’d rather be wearing something else.

Sometimes following Jesus feels less like a highlight reel...
And more like walking through an airport in a pony T-shirt you didn’t pick.

But you go anyway.

Because it’s not about comfort.
It’s about calling.

God uses the willing, not the perfectly prepared.
The available, not the polished.
The ones who say “yes”... even when it feels a little awkward.

This Week’s Faith Habit

Do one uncomfortable act of obedience today.

Not a big, dramatic one—just something small where you feel that internal hesitation:

• Send the text
• Start the conversation
• Offer encouragement
• Step into something you’ve been avoiding

When you feel that moment of “I’d rather not...”—lean in instead.

That’s often where obedience begins.

👇

Also... if you see someone at the airport in a ridiculous T-shirt today...

Just assume God might be up to something. 😉

With you in the middle-of-the-night moments,
Lisa