Royal Deliveries

Posted on by

Once a boy grows into a man and takes on the heavy responsibilities of a family, home, and job, life gets pretty serious. Having fun is a priority that slips farther down the list, and bits of contentment and peace become the new “good times.” One thing, though, that’s always fun is purchasing a new vehicle.

Today my British relatives had an afternoon of pure fun together as they bought a new red van, at least new to them. During the summer when school teaching is on hiatus, Hans becomes a full time gardener, a business that is flourishing as much as the plants he tends.

He had outgrown his old van long ago and today found the perfect vehicle. It was particularly exciting to 4 year old Nicholas, since this van had originally carried the “Royal Mail” of London.

Postal BagNicholas’ has been all about mail since the cartoon “Postman Pat” became his favorite nearly 2 years ago (half a lifetime for him). For his last birthday I put together an official mail bag loaded with colored paper in several sizes, stickers that resembled stamps, a variety of envelopes, pencils, and pens. According to his parents, it’s been a hit.

Nyman PostHans added a cardboard postal box, and Nicholas has kept busy creating and delivering mail nearly every day. The fact that the new van had been used to haul real mail was like the fulfillment of a fantasy for Nicholas, and he counted the minutes till we all went to pick it up.

On the lookout

Since the van was being driven up from London, Hans arranged to take possession at the local train station so the driver had a way to get back. We arrived 10 minutes before he did, and the children sat on the station wall keeping a lookout for “a red postal van.” When Nicholas saw it, his eyebrows went up and his eyes grew wide.

Best of all, though, was when he noticed the faint outline of the words “Royal Mail” on the side of the van indicating where the letters had once been. But the new van isn’t the only way Royal Mail has been delivered.Royal Mail

God is in the mail business, too. Long ago he delivered the biggest and best parcel ever sent: his Word. Within the package were 66 individual books, each one full of messages from him. And he has continued to prepare and deliver additional items ever since, things like job opportunities, excellent medical care, repaired relationships, new babies, financial rescue, good health, and the most important thing he ever sent, his Son. Without him, God’s life-changing Gospel couldn’t have been delivered to us.

The inspectionAfter Hans’ red van arrived home, the children eagerly inspected it, finding treasure in the back: a stash of rubber bands “that used to hold real mail!” Nicholas said.

That may indeed be accurate, but the real Royal Mail came to us by special delivery, many centuries before.

First ride

“Royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations.” (Psalm 22:28)

Done in Love

Posted on by

Mom always referred to a daughter-in-law as a daughter-in-love, which was a positive way to begin well. The label “in-law” isn’t very warm or inviting but implies we’re related to each other only because the law says so. Maybe that’s why the better description is “daughter-in-love.”

Katy and crowd

My daughter-in-love Katy has been an asset to Hans and our whole family since the day she said “I do,” and because she and I have known each other for 7+ years, we’re well along in our relationship. Though living far apart has its negatives, there is one positive: when I visit, I “move in” and get to be part of the family. By fitting in with their busy household, I get the inside scoop on how life is going. I can learn what the stresses are and witness the joys.

Katy was the firstborn of 5 siblings in her family, and in that position has always been an excellent organizer and planner. But running a household with 4 children (ages 4 and under) presents minute-to-minute challenges her former life of order and control never knew. Sometimes all 4 need her at the same time that the phone is ringing and the pot is boiling over. So Katy, a naturally disciplined person, can struggle with such unplanned turmoil. On occasion she’s had to bend nearly to her breaking point. When that happens, though, she knows exactly what to do, because she’s not just my daughter-in-love. She’s God’s, too.

Her “–in-love” relationship with him differs from the one with me in that she never had to win him over. Though I find Katy very easy to love, if she hadn’t been, it might have taken longer for us to develop a relationship. As for God, it wouldn’t have mattered one bit. Her daughtership to him is an “-in-love” one, not because she’s wise, optimistic, and flexible (which she is), or because any law dictates it, but because he wants it that way.

All of us can be blessed with an “-in-love” connection that’s meaningful. The only thing we have to do is commit ourselves to God. Though we don’t become related to him through a marriage, we do by adoption, and because he chose us, his love is strong.

Katy

Being adopted, we are given all the rights of spiritual daughters-in-love (or sons-in-love), which include his stress-management help. So when Katy’s world closes in on her, she knows what to do. She calls on her Father and is sure he’ll come through for her, because “-in-love” relationships find pleasure in helping like that.

I’m so glad Katy is God’s daughter-in-love, and I’m also thankful he’s allowed her to be mine, too, not in quite the same way, but in a way that’s very, very nice.

“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.”  (Ephesians 1:5)

Satisfaction and Joy

Posted on by

ChefThe day Hans met Katy, he had no way of knowing how radically his life was about to change. In the 7½ years since then, he’s moved to England, been embraced by a British family he hadn’t known before, married their daughter, put down roots in a town in north England, and fathered 4 lively children. In less than a decade his life has changed in every category. Had he been given the details ahead of time, he wouldn’t have believed it.

Handyman

 

During these years, Hans has loved learning to cook, to fix broken things, to bathe and read to children, to preach sermons, to wash dishes, to teach percussion, and a wide variety of other things. And this 30 year old guy is a happy man.

Hans didn’t always walk closely with God, having several years of “crazy” in his past. But when he finally gave his life over to the Lord for his purposes, a world of satisfaction and joy became his. Today he’s a walking, talking example of Luke 6:38:

“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full — pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

Who wouldn’t want God’s blessings “pressed down, shaken together, and running over?”

Bedtime story readerThe way to get that is in the first word: “Give… and you will receive.” Give first. If I had to summarize Hans’ life in  one word, it would be “giver”. From waking at 5:30 AM to give the best hour of every day to his Lord, until he and Katy fall into bed expecting to give to children during the night, Hans is a giver. What motivates him?

There was nothing unusual about Hans in his growing-up years, and as his mom, I can’t point to anything I did to contribute to his success story. If his father was here, he’d say the same. What, then, set him up for the satisfaction and joy he’s experiencing?

I decided to ask him tonight, and here’s what he said: “Discovering the Gospel continues to change everything for me. My identity is in Christ, and it’s essential to know who you are, and to be at peace. I’m forgiven by God and adopted into His family by the grace of Jesus Christ. Also, knowing that the Holy Spirit is keeping me gives me confidence, even when circumstances are difficult – which they often are.”

The teacher plays.Hans is an example of how lavishly the Lord is willing to bless anyone who is fully submitted to him, not necessarily with money or possessions but with abundant satisfaction and joy. And the good news is, God will do it for any of us.

One of Hans’ favorite verses: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)