What a Character

Character CountsWe often see the slogan “Character Counts” on banners stretched across elementary school entrance doors and are taught from young ages that who we are when no one’s watching is the real us. Some people conduct their lives based on principles they refuse to compromise, but others live in the wiggle-room between conviction and chaos.

Most of us know that doing the right thing usually means making the hard choice, and that’s especially true when no one’s keeping track. But how many people actually do the right thing every time? Probably not many.

What if we define the specific lines we won’t cross no matter what, and then a test comes? How likely is it we’ll stick to our guns? How likely we’ll give in?

Satan lives by a set of principles, too. The trouble is, his are always at odds with ours, if we’re Christians. Everything that coaxes us to violate our own standards comes from him. But sometimes we can be our own worst enemy, unaware of crossing our own lines-in-the-sand until both feet are planted on the wrong side.

We tell ourselves, “A thought to do something bad is only a temptation, not a sin. I can’t help what pops into my head, and one thought leads to another. Until I’ve acted on it, it can’t be sin.” Is that the truth?

Scripture teaches us how to defend our principles by providing a model in Jesus. As we study his example, we see how to faithfully do what’s right. He lived a human life hounded by the devil just like we are, but he never crossed the line into sin. Satan often used the established Jewish big-wigs to harass him in unrelenting attempts to break down his resolve.

PhariseeOne day these officials approached him. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are.” (Matthew 22:16) Then they went on to try to trap him with words. But in this introductory statement we find two keys to living a principled life: (1) Base it on “the way of God in accordance with the truth,” and (2) don’t be swayed by the opinions of others.

As we work at these two things, we’ll learn to deny our natural me-firsts and substitute the ways of Christ. With enough practice, we’ll stop justifying our sins and find ourselves doing the right thing, even when no one’s watching.

“Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” (Matthew 16:25)

Crystal Clear

Jack's bowlsSome would say our dog Jack is spoiled. After all, he eats and drinks out of crystal bowls.

Well, not quite. Though that’s what it looks like, the truth is far from it. Years ago, Nate was running an errand to Ace Hardware to copy a key. When he returned, he came in all excited, calling for me.

“I bought you something!” he said, with a big smile. Handing me a heavy brown bag, he said, “You’re gonna love these.”

I couldn’t imagine what might come from Ace that I would love, but inside, wrapped in multiple plastic bags, were four giant glass bowls. It was one of those moments when I knew I should say something enthusiastic, but I was dumbfounded. Four huge identical bowls? Where would I store them? How would I use so many? What about the bowls I already had?

Nate saw my confusion. “Glass bowls! You love glass!”

Still fishing for words, I said, “Wow.”

He nodded and continued. “And you wouldn’t believe the price! Two bucks each! If they’d had any more, I’d have bought ‘em all!”

Grateful to receive 4 bowls instead of 24, I finally found something to say. “Thanks so much!”

The bowls ended up stored in a stack on the dining room floor, since the cabinets were already full. Nate loved seeing them there, because they prompted him to tell dinner guests about his fabulous find. Gradually I gained appreciation for the bowls, because of the thoughtfulness behind them.

When we moved to Michigan with the 4 bowls, we were squeezing two houses worth of stuff into one and had a bowl-crisis for sure. I asked every visitor, “Want a pressed glass bowl?” For nearly a year there were no takers, though eventually one did go to a new home. In the end, though, Jack ended up with 2 of them.

Now, whenever I fill Jack’s bowls, I’m thankful I didn’t say what I was thinking when Nate first presented them. The fact that I held back, though, had nothing to do with me and everything to do with God’s answer to a long-standing prayer.

Closed mouthI’ve often asked the Lord to stop me from saying wrong things. He’s done it again and again, sealing my lips in the nick of time. The day Nate gave me the bowls, it was God (not me) who kept me from blurting out something hurtful. Had I voiced my thoughts back then, today I would feel awful every time I fed the dog.

Proverbs 17:28 says, “Even a fool is thought wise if ‘she’ keeps silent.” So when I’m thinking like a fool as I was on bowl-gift-day, silence was God’s direct answer to my prayers.

And that’s crystal clear.

“Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.” (Psalm 141:3)

Excitement in the Pew

Recently, on the first Sunday of the month, I slid into church a couple of minutes late and sat in the back row. As the service proceeded, I enjoyed watching a family sitting in front of me with four young children. My best guesses were: a boy of 12, girls about 9 and 8 and a boy around 6. All were well-behaved, and the mother, sitting in the middle, repeatedly quick-glanced in both directions to make sure.

Toward the end of the service, she leaned over to her youngest boy, probably a first grader, and whispered, “You can take communion today.”

It was as if he’d been told there was a new bike waiting for him in the parking lot. He wiggled and squirmed with excitement he could barely contain, gently tugging on his older brother’s sleeve as if to say, “Did you hear that? Mom said I could!”

CommunionAs the plate of crackers came, he didn’t hesitate but took one and passed it on. Soft music played as he studied his tiny treasure, looking back and forth between his cracker and his mother’s face. She smiled and put her hands together to let him know he should pray, and immediately he bowed his head. When the pastor gave the signal to eat, he looked at his brother, who gave him the go-ahead. A similar routine occurred with the cup.

I can’t stop thinking about this little guy’s enthusiasm for communion. He made a joyful mark on me, and I knew God was watching him with satisfaction. I prayed this child would always remember the happiness he felt as he took communion for the first time.

Children are naturally drawn to Jesus. Scripture says so, and it’s still true today. God must have endowed them with a special understanding of his love. They never question it and usually receive salvation as the uncomplicated gift it is. They have no thoughts of “what about this or that…” and simply trust that he is who he says he is. What delight this must bring to the heart of the Father. If only we adults could think in the same unfettered way.

This little boy’s behavior showed he’d been prepared for communion and schooled in the deep significance of the cross. I hope when he put his head on the pillow that night, his mom or dad asked for his thoughts about the morning. He might have taught them something special.

Once in a while, all of us would do well to think like a child.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Rev. 3:20)

Praising and Praying with Mary

  1. Praise for long, nourishing naps after chemo treatments.
  2. Pray for wisdom on Wednesday as we meet again with the GI specialist about the painful feeding tube.
  3. Pray that the mild nausea I’m experiencing tonight won’t flare up tomorrow.
  4. Pray for enough strength to have fun with 5 grandchildren this week.