Accepting Revisions

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Margaret

In yesterday’s post we learned of little Elizabeth Anne Nyman’s arrival into her family, bringing the revised count up to 7.These first 24 hours have been like a symphony of praise as we’ve all sent waves of gratitude up to the Lord.

Five-year-old Evelyn is gleeful over the blessing of a sister, and the older boys are finding Elizabeth interesting and appealing.

And then there’s Andrew.

One month short of turning two, he has no idea how his life is about to change, and from his point of view, it’ll all be negative. Visitors will arrive with gifts…. for Elizabeth. The camera will be clicking continually…. focused on Elizabeth. He’ll have to wait longer for his turn…. because of Elizabeth. And he’ll be carried less…. since mummy will be carrying Elizabeth.

Over time Andrew may make objections to these and other changes, but his reign as “the baby” has come to an end. Of course his parents will be conscious of this difficult adjustment, giving him as much one-on-one as they can. Hans said it well, though: “It’ll be the best thing in the world for him.”

Most two-year-olds assume they’re the center of the universe, and there’s nothing like a new baby in the house to teach them they’re not.

Interestingly, we adults sometimes have to learn this same lesson in different ways. When God tells us “no” to something we dearly want, he is acting as our loving Parent and has important reasons why a “no” is good for us. As a result, we may have a toddler-style tantrum – not that anyone can see, but inside our heads.

It’s easy to mentally rebel against a choice God makes for us by determining we’re going to do it our way anyway. But he isn’t swayed by our toddler-like behavior and doesn’t change his mind just to make us happy. Katy and Hans won’t acquiesce to Andrew, either, if he makes unreasonable demands in the weeks to come.

No “demotion” from the place we want to be is without its angst, but in Andrew’s case, eventually he’ll adjust to his revised role in the family and life will get easier for him. Hopefully we adults learn to respond to God’s revisions well, too, so we can escape the harsh natural consequences that often come when we resist.

Yesterday’s post also included the story of our Linnea who didn’t get the baby sister she’d been hoping for but got a 4^th brother instead. Though she fought it at first, it wasn’t too long before she got on board with God’s choice. And two good things came from that: (1) she learned to be faithful in prayer (asking for a sister), and (2) she learned that God does answer prayer, sometimes lavishly! Not too long after she got a 4^th brother, she got two more siblings. Both sisters.

As the old chorus goes, God’s way is the best way.

“Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life.” (Proverbs 10:17)

A Purple Bible

Posted on April 21, 2015 by Margaret

Finding myself back in the Chicago suburbs last weekend, I had no idea how much fun God had in store. Baby showers are always energizing as women gather to celebrate new life and help “induct” young parents-to-be into the adventure of parenthood.

After the shower, I listened to one of the other guests tell stories of God-sightings in her life, always an inspiration. Hearing the details of another woman’s radical trust in God urges the rest of us to trust him “just like that.”

Roxanne told of a recent mission trip to Hungary with the church high school youth group. Their purpose was to teach English to Hungarians by day and fellowship with them by night. Those whose native language is English are welcomed into foreign cultures by those wanting to learn the language. Roxanne, along with the other leaders, prayed God would use them in ways that would bring the students closer to him.

When Roxanne’s luggage didn’t appear in the Hungarian airport, she became a celebrity of sorts, borrowing clothes for a few days and remaining upbeat about her suitcase. Thankfully she’d packed her “necessities” in her carry-on bag.

One of those necessities was her favorite Bible, the one her husband Ricky had given her as a birthday gift years before. It was unusual in that it was purple, and through the years Roxanne had underlined and filled the margins with notes of personal discoveries.

One evening a Hungarian student named Sabrina noticed Roxanne’s purple Bible. In broken English she asked about it, and Roxanne felt God nudging her to give away her Bible.

“Really, God?” she said. “She can’t even read English, and this is the English Standard Version!”

Sabrina asked to see the Bible, and Roxanne resisted, not wanting to part with her treasure. But she had prayed God would use her, and God’s intention was clear.

As Sabrina was walking away with the purple Bible tucked under her arm, Roxanne said, “Try to read the underlined words first. I’ll be praying for you.”

Roxanne’s prayers about the trip began to change. For one thing, they had Sabrina’s name in them. They also pleaded with God to open her understanding to the underlined words in the Bible.

Roxanne wasn’t able to go on the next mission trip back to Hungary, but when that was over, those who’d gone told her they’d seen Sabrina, who was still working at her English. And she was carrying the purple Bible.

God works wonders with his Word and watches over it carefully. From our point of view, it’s a long shot that Sabrina will manage enough English to understand and appropriate the words inside her purple Bible. But Roxanne is trusting God to teach her — both the English language and the truths of his Word.

“My Word…. shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

Growing Pains

Posted on April 13, 2015 by Margaret

Every season has its beauties, but spring might just be the most eagerly anticipated of them all. Here in southwest Michigan we’ve had an exceptionally frosty winter but finally are noticing bits of neighborhood greenery…. with great joy.

Last fall our friend Teddy planted dozens of hosta plants in my small yard, plants that were given to us by a generous friend. All winter I thought of those gnarly-looking roots buried beneath frozen dirt with a couple of feet of snow on top of them. Would they make it through? Would we see them again when spring finally arrived?

And now spring is here.

It was two weeks ago that I first began noticing other people’s perennials surfacing, but ours were still a no-show. I wondered if the transplant last October might have been too much for them. Or had they sat in my buckets too long between being uprooted and put under again?

I gently raked around the spots where the root balls had been planted, clearing away stray ivy vines, acorns, and stones along the way. I didn’t want anything to hinder their appearance. Still, two weeks after seeing other gardens take on a green glow, our hostas were MIA. I continued to check on them with hope.

Though I don’t have a very green thumb, I think that springtime anticipation of new growth is part of what draws people back to all the hard labor gardening requires, year after year. Is it possible that’s the way we ought to think about spiritual growth, too? Shouldn’t we have the same eager expectation?

Sometimes I’m not sure we even want spiritual growth. Once we learn that becoming more Christ-like usually comes wrapped in difficulties, asking for it is tantamount to asking for trouble. Like a new gardener hoping for a showcase yard without too much planting, weeding, and watering, we’d rather become spiritually mature without all the trials and tribulations.

But regardless, whether we’re feeling up for another growth spurt or comfortable where we are, asking God to take us further with him will always be a valuable prayer. And he’ll always answer it with a yes.

Sure, it will most likely be a laborious process just as yard work is difficult, but the satisfaction we experience when our perennials peek through the dirt can’t compare to an increased understanding of God and his ways.

As for my hostas, yesterday I checked one more time, and lo and behold, I found several tiny green points reaching for the sun. I was so happy, I let out a whoop that even startled Jack. May I be even more excited than that to see the tiniest sign of growth in Christ…. in my life.