The Amazing Body

I’m amazed again. This time at the structure that makes up the rib cage. Did you know that the true ribs (located on the upper part of the rib cage and attached to the sternum) of a pitcher, can withstand the force of a softball hit on a line drive, by a 200 lb. (estimated, maybe more) man, when impacted from the front. It’s true. The ball just bounces off. Of course, it leaves a mark, about the size of a softball, almost instantaneously. You can’t breathe for a bit, but you can still move well enough to grab the ball and make the throw to get the runner out at first. I was really glad that it wasn’t hit 8 inches higher. My teeth aren’t in the greatest of shape already. That would have really made a mess. I couldn’t see it coming until it was about 3 feet in front of me because the sun was in my eyes. By that time, it was too late to move. That was Monday. This is Wednesday, and I’m feeling great. A little tender where the bruise is, but that’s it. When God put us together, He sure knew what he was doing. Is it any wonder that Paul compares the church to the body? (1 Cor. 12) You know, come to think of it, sometimes the body of Christ takes a blow in the chest from a line drive hit by Satan. Often times, we don’t even see it coming. But don’t you worry. God made this body too. It’s stronger than anything Satan can throw our way. He truly is amazing. I Love you Lord!!!!

Today, my youngest (of six) turns 13. Wow!!!! Where does time go? What a year! First my second to the youngest turns 16 and gets his drivers license, and now my youngest becomes a teen ager, and at the same time, my youngest daughter finishes her first year of college. Oh, and the eye doctor tells me I need glasses or contacts and makes the statement, “Most people don’t make it too ‘your age’ before they need these.” Dear Lord, what are you trying to tell me? Yep, the signs of time are beginning to show.
It’s a good thing though. I guess. Because, God has been very good to me through the years! My life has been filled with blessings, pressed down, and overflowing. The best parents in the whole world, great brothers and sisters, the best, most wonderful, loving, great looking, etc…, wife I could ever ask for, awesome, talented, terrific children, and a church family that is out of this world, are just a few of the blessings that would top my list. So,,,,,,, why me Lord? (should be a song title) What makes me so special that You would be so kind?
My guess is, that I’m not the only one that has had so many blessings showered upon him. In fact, maybe you should take a few moments and count yours. Oh, you say, “A few moments aren’t enough?” Imagine that! So what would your life have been like if you didn’t have the Lord as your Savior, your hope, and your guide? Look around you. You don’t have to look far to find someone, who doesn’t feel they have been as blessed as you. Why is that? Doesn’t He love them as much as you? I assure you, He does!!! They just don’t know it. You need to tell them. Serve them like Jesus would. Invite them to be a part of His family. Bless someone today. Develop a system, or pattern, or habit that includes reaching out daily to those who don’t know and trust Him.
Dear Lord, don’t let me be selfish with the blessings you have showered on me. Show me how I might share them with those around me. Thank you for all the wonderful years you have given me. I want to give you credit for all you have and are doing for me.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:13-16

Children Learn What They Live

As a follow up to the previous post, I would like to share this poem by Dorothy Law Nolte.

"Children Learn What They Live"
If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Very well put, don't you think?

For children, today is all about tomorrow!

For children, today is all about tomorrow. By nature, they look to the future, since so very little of life lies behind them. Everything worthwhile is “in front.” The future is waiting to happen for them.
How a child feels about his or her future has everything to do with what is going on in life today. In their mysterious and wonderful minds, children observe, absorb, and apply a tremendous amount of information from their earliest moments. They are busy discovering their world, finding their place in it, figuring out what they might do. It is a delicate and formative span of time. (From “Too Small To Ignore” by Dr. Wess Stafford)

I find great enjoyment and satisfaction in watching children. Maybe that’s why I love my job so much. Maybe that’s why, most of the time, my job doesn’t seem like a job. Maybe that’s why I find myself asking the question, “How long will God choose to have me here, doing this?” Maybe that’s why I’m enjoying the book, “Too Small To Ignore” by Dr. Wess Stafford so much. Children are fun to study.

When Kadence and Brayden or Joey (3 of our 4 grandchildren) come to visit, I’ll find myself just watching and listening to them instead of doing the things I had set out to do around the house. It’s fun to try to place myself inside their little heads to try to follow their reasoning. The quote above truly caught my attention when I read it. It’s true.

Today is all about tomorrow for a child. What they learn today will help them through tomorrow. God planted within them the desire to learn as much as they can every waking moment. I think that’s why they often don’t want to go to sleep when they should. “I might miss something.”

Even though many parents or grand parents might dread the time when their little one becomes mobile, I look forward to it. Their little minds are like sponges, soaking in everything they come in contact with. Their senses are alert, and in tune with everything around them. They may hear something across the room that needs investigating, and as they crawl across the floor towards the sound they are stopping to check out every piece of string or plastic of mud with their eyes, nose and mouth. They file that information away for future use, without even knowing that they are doing this.

Joey gets to come visit Papa and Nana quite often, as they live close to us, so I get to watch him often. Now that he’s walking, barricades have been placed in strategic places around the house to keep him from exploring too far and falling down the stairs, or opening cupboards with dangerous chemicals in them. Breakable things have been moved up to protect him. We make these adjustments to his and our surroundings because we love him very much, and don’t want anything to harm him. Doesn’t our heavenly father do the same for you and me? Yet, Joey has the freedom to go almost everywhere he wants. We want him to learn what he can or cannot do, and how that might affect his life later. He has to learn how to make the right choices. (side note – Rick (Joey’s dad) has taught him to close doors that are open, instead of opening them to pull things out. Isn’t that a great idea? It will be fun to see how long that works.)

I still find myself learning from the little ones. I suppose that the moment I quit trying to learn from them, my heavenly father will remove me from this position. I pray that never happens.

Thank you Lord, for giving us children. Thank you, for the spirit you’ve placed within them. Thank you, for the lessons we can learn from them. Thank you, for the love they unselfishly give to us. May we always provide for them an environment that encourages them to experience your presence.