The pattern is set. Papa relaxes a bit on the sofa. Emma snuggles on the sofa next to Papa where she falls sound asleep in his arm. He loves this and loves looking at her saying, “This is my little pumpkin”. His arm, not moving, often becomes painful; but he doesn’t want to move her because he so enjoys the special time. She falls off to sleep, secure as can be. He dutifully and adoringly lets her doze, tucked within his arm.
Moral of the story: Peace will come when we rest in the arms of our adoring Father who loves to hold us.
Scripture thought:
On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. (Psalm 63:6-8)
March 7, 2009: So, I get an extra entry this week as the kids slept over last night while their mom and dad attend a marriage retreat. Uncle Gus and Aunt Kristen came this morning to pick them up as they are watching them until tomorrow. Caleb woke up and was awaiting his Uncle Gus. He had drawn a picture of Darth Vader that he could scarcely wait to give him. When Uncle Gus and Aunt Kristen arrived both the kids let out screams of joy. Caleb soon ran to get his prized picture and proudly handed it over to Uncle Gus exclaiming “This is for you. Deety did most of it and I did all of it!”
Moral of the story: When we give from our selves, (our gifts) to others it feels good and right. However, sometimes it’s easy to forget we couldn’t give anything on our own. Every good gift we have to give comes from God. Yet God who gives freely, allows us to feel the joy of giving.
Scripture thought:
Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:16-17)
March 13, 2009: Tonight both the kids were recovering from strep throat. They were feeling okay as they had just completed their medication. Emma came in stating, “Yay!! No more yucky medicine. I’m done!!! Caleb quickly looked at me and sighed, “I wish it would never end.” They had the same medicine. One hated it and one never wanted it to end. Yet they both had to take it. (Two days later they would have to repeat the process with stronger medicine, as they quickly relapsed)
Moral of the story: God gives us what we need for our spiritual health and growth. Sometimes God’s medicine is distasteful, and sometimes it tastes good. Sometimes we need another dose. To get well, we need to take it no matter what…for as long as we need. The end result is for our good.
Scripture thoughts:
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11)
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance. (Romans 5:3)
But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:13)
March 20, 2009: Tonight the kids came, still on their medicine but feeling fine. We had fun doing the usual Friday night routines. Papa has strep throat tonight. (Go figure.) The kids were playing around and Papa was in the office finishing up the taxes, so he had been less available than usual. Toward the end of the evening he came in to play and joked with the kids, “hey, where’ve you been?…I haven’t gotten much attention tonight and I’m sharing strep throat with you!” Emma, not missing a beat said, “Papa, that’s because you’ve been busy and haven’t given us any attention!”
Moral of the story: Sometimes we wonder where God is, not realizing that we are the ones who have not drawn close to Him.
Scripture thought:
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. (1 Chronicles 16:11)
He went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.” (2 Chronicles 15:2)
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. (Acts 17:27)
March 27, 2009: Caleb came over where I was sitting and writing an e-mail. My computer reminded him of the Star Wars song I had shown him several weeks prior. He sat beside me in the chair and asked if I’d show him the song. I assured him I would after I finished my e-mail.
“What’s an e-mail Nana?” he asked. I explained and he then said, “Are you finished, can I see it now?” Another second went by and he asked, “Are you finished, can I see it now?” ….another second, “how ‘bout now, Nana?”. This went on for about 16 times and I decided it was time to just stop what I was doing and give in…(this is a grandmother’s prerogative). After all, it is Friday night and he made clear his request. He got my attention.
Moral of the story: Though God is never too busy for us, sometimes He may wonder just how important something is to us by the consistency with which we speak to Him about it. Persistence really does make a difference.
Scripture thought:
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' ” And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:1-8)