Category Archives: Thankfulness

Summer, don’t go!

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Flip FlopsAlthough I wore flip-flops today, the comments of others made me realize I was pushing the season. In just a few days socks and shoes will be the norm, and my beloved flip-flops will have to go back into storage. It’s just one of the many mini-mournings of a summer person looking toward winter. Though the colored leaves have been stunning this year, in a short time they, too, will have put their summer fashions into storage.

Winter people are quick to mention the positives of their favorite season to us summer folk: the beauty of fresh snow, fires in the fireplace, soups on the stove, roasts in the oven, and 3 major holidays. We could argue over the seasons for quite a while and never come up with a clear winner.

But what does God think about our discussing which weather-season is best? Is he ok with that debate?

Actually, no.

So what does he want us to allow into our minds that comes out in conversation? What thoughts are above all others? Scripture tells us to put everything through a grid of 8 subjects. If we can honestly say a debate about the seasons falls under one of them, we can go for it. Here they are:

  1. Four SeasonsTruth
  2. Honor
  3. Righteousness
  4. Purity
  5. Beauty
  6. Excellence
  7. Worthiness
  8. Praiseworthiness

Could a discussion of favorite seasons fall under #5? Of course we couldn’t make a case for one season being more beautiful than another. Maybe a better leaning would be toward gratitude for seasonal variety or a discussion about the great creativity of the Almighty. We might even recognize him for the faithfulness he demonstrates in causing the 4 seasons to come and go with such flawless consistency.

The above list of 8 is given in one short Bible verse, Philippians 4:8. The Message translation gives us the same list in a slightly different way:

“You’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”

Whining about the waning of summer and the gloom of packing away my flip-flops doesn’t fall under the list in either translation. Although debating which season is best probably isn’t sinful, it sure isn’t taking the conversational high road, and that includes conversation inside our heads.

Despite the fact that we live in a fallen world, God has surrounded us with unnumbered items from that list of 8. When I ignore those to yammer away about things that aren’t on the list, I’ve missed an opportunity to please God and do life his way.

WinterSo, as I slip my flip-flops into their storage bin (without complaining), I should tell God how lovely his summer season has been, that I’ve noticed his extra-vibrant fall colors, and that I’m looking forward to the beauties of the winter he sends, no matter what the weather report will say.

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously.” (Matthew 6:33)

A Proud Day

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The Disney cartoon “Dumbo” about a baby elephant is actually a story of mother-love. When Mrs. Jumbo receives a stork-delivered bundle, the elephant matrons admire little Jumbo Junior saying, “This is a proud, proud day!”

Mother-loveThe plot line goes downhill from there as they discover the little guy has massive, flag-like ears, which is when the older elephants nickname him Dumbo. But his mother continues in passionate love for her offspring, and every day is a proud, proud day for her. When Dumbo figures out how to use his oversized ears to fly, his mother is nearly bursting with pride.

Children bring big bundles of happiness to their parents, and when they accomplish something wonderful or make an excellent decision, we parents get a thrill just watching from the sidelines.

Taking an oathIt was a “proud, proud day” for me this week because of something my daughter Birgitta did. She was officially sworn in with 10 others in a courtroom ceremony, all of whom have been through 6 weeks of intensive training. Their preparation has been done through the local C.A.S.A. program, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate.

Beginning next week, these 11 volunteers will walk alongside one child in the foster care system, becoming a friend and a familiar face through the different stages of that youngster’s time away from his or her parents. This might mean visits to the home, testimony to a judge concerning the child’s welfare, interviews of relevant parties, courtroom observations, time spent paired with a social worker, and other moments when they’ll partner with “their” child.

None of it will be easy, because each “case” is a sad one, and some involve the physical suffering of children. Trying not to get overwhelmed with the enormity of the needs will be part of the challenge for each C.A.S.A. volunteer, and several of them dropped out of the program even before the training period was over.

The after-partyFamilies were invited to witness the swearing-in ceremony this week, after which a celebration was hosted by their teacher. And as I listened to two judges challenge the new Special Advocates and thank them for their willingness to serve, it was a proud, proud day.

Today Birgitta was assigned her first case. Of course she’s nervous, wanting badly to do a good job, despite never having done anything like this before. But Scripture says, “God blesses those who work for peace.” (Matthew 5:9) I admire her greatly in her willingness to step out and do something that will be very difficult. She doesn’t have to do it but simply wants to…. with a passion.

Birgitta and the judgeIt defies logic, and for that reason, I know it is God who has called her to “fly” into this task, and my prayer for her is:

“May the God of peace…. equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you,   through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him.” (Hebrews 13:20)

Creative Kids

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One of the blessings of having children around is their bent toward creativity. Our 3 Florida grands are spending a couple of weeks with us, and evidence of their prolific ideas is everywhere.

Skylar drawsFor example, when Skylar noticed condensation on the front storm door, she quickly turned it into artwork. When space on the glass ran out, she raced to the basement for paper and markers to draw the fresh ideas she’d gleaned while drawing on the door. Before long she had her own art show, along with a toy cash register for making change during sales.

 

Sand angel MicahAnother example: Micah loved our trip to the playground, romping on the monkey bars and slides till he got the lovely idea to make a snow angel in the sand. I watched as he stood to admire his work, deciding he could make a better one. He stomped all over the sand to “erase” what he’d made, and dropped down to repeat the process. Though there was sand in the bathtub that night, his joy in creating was lovely.

 

Autumn rides the boxA third example: Twenty-month old Autumn watched Emerald open gift after gift at her birthday party, but none of them were for her. When a big, colorful riding toy appeared, she decided to get creative, ignoring the actual present and finding satisfaction in riding the box it came in. How can we not applaud such imaginative thinking?

When God created the earth and those who live on it, he demonstrated the ultimate in imaginative thinking. And he did it all without supplies. Though we humans have figured out how to create/clone sheep, mice, and other creatures, it can only be done by using a living, breathing mother of the same species who can carry the embryo to term.

Life always and only comes from life, with one exception: when the scientist is God.

“Imaginative thinking,” the quality I love in my grandchildren, isn’t really the right label for God. The only appropriate one is Creator. Ex nihilo. Everything out of nothing.

Play DohI like to picture God forming the first human being from clay much like my grandchildren and I shape Play Doh. Did he lovingly craft Adam’s heart in his hands (and every other organ), enjoying the process of assembling him? And once this young man’s body was complete, did he lean over, mouth-to-mouth as we do in resuscitation efforts, and breathe life into him?

It’s a thrilling picture far superior to “imaginative thinking.” When I watch my grandchildren getting creative, though, I like to think it’s God’s way of “tagging” them with a bit of himself. After all, some of their best ideas just seem to come…. ex nihilo! And only God could be behind those.

“The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.” (Genesis 2:7)