The last three days I have had the privalige of working with my two sons at home. We did all sorts of things, from cutting dead limbs out of trees, to weeding the garden, (your welcome honey! ;-) to helping grandpa in his shop, to fishing, camping out, roasting hot dogs, playing in the sand, cutting wood, making dinner, and a host more. I found out what my father had told me numorous times as I was growing up was true, he really enjoyed doing things with his boys. I had so much fun that I didn't care how tired I was. I didn't mind so much that it took twice as long for them to set the table as for me too. I loved being with them, teaching them and watching the fruit come forth in their lives.
Today was Father's day. My wife called bright and early, before we even got in from the tent, to wish me a happy fathers day! I thought about that a lot today. As much as I love to be with my children and to see them grow, it doesn't even come close to what God must feel when we walk with Him and learn the lessons He would have us to. That must be His ultimate "Father's Day."
The verse that sums up my feelings better than anything is: "I have no greater JOY, than to know my children walk in truth." Amen!!
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child...
My wife left me. Well, only for a week, but that's pretty close to desertion, don't you think?!
In all seriousness, I am glad she got the oppurtunity to go east to see her family and witness the wedding of her first cousin. She took the two youngest with her so it's just me and the boys at home. We are coping well, however the first evening, Jeremiah, our second born, leaned over to Japheth and whispered something and then started trotting in to the house. I asked him where he was going. He responded with "I need to talk to Mama." I picked him up and had to fight back tears myself as I told him that we needed to be brave cause Mama wasn't coming back for a long time. (Try to be two and a half and see how long a week without your mother is!!!) We have been having a good time though. I have off of work from Thursday thru Sunday so I could spend time with them and maybe lessen the pain a bit. We are camping out this evening in a tent in our back yard, something they have been begging for, and we went fishing for sunfish yesterday, and today we made a sandbox and cut a bunch of wood for our kitchen stove. I ran the woodsplitter and the boys filled the wagon. In the picture below, they stacked all the wood between the ranked ends! I was so proud of them!!
This below, is our new sandbox. My father graciously donated the sand and now the children have a new way to get dirty! One more thing accomplished that I wanted to get done this long weekend off of work. Or maybe I should say, paying work. :-)
As far as cooking, well, all I can say is thank God for parents close by, and Hamburger Helper!!
In all seriousness, I am glad she got the oppurtunity to go east to see her family and witness the wedding of her first cousin. She took the two youngest with her so it's just me and the boys at home. We are coping well, however the first evening, Jeremiah, our second born, leaned over to Japheth and whispered something and then started trotting in to the house. I asked him where he was going. He responded with "I need to talk to Mama." I picked him up and had to fight back tears myself as I told him that we needed to be brave cause Mama wasn't coming back for a long time. (Try to be two and a half and see how long a week without your mother is!!!) We have been having a good time though. I have off of work from Thursday thru Sunday so I could spend time with them and maybe lessen the pain a bit. We are camping out this evening in a tent in our back yard, something they have been begging for, and we went fishing for sunfish yesterday, and today we made a sandbox and cut a bunch of wood for our kitchen stove. I ran the woodsplitter and the boys filled the wagon. In the picture below, they stacked all the wood between the ranked ends! I was so proud of them!!
This below, is our new sandbox. My father graciously donated the sand and now the children have a new way to get dirty! One more thing accomplished that I wanted to get done this long weekend off of work. Or maybe I should say, paying work. :-)
As far as cooking, well, all I can say is thank God for parents close by, and Hamburger Helper!!
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Meandering Thoughts
This last week has been a blur. Having a Track and Field day at our church for all the homeschoolers in the area last Friday, having company both Saturday and Sunday, starting Vacation Bible School on Monday and I'm supposed to be the superintendent. Lately I've felt the load heavier and it has cost me some of my peace, trying to be all things to all people.
A few postings ago I alluded to a area of shortcoming in my life. That area is the pride of my heart. I do almost everything to be seen of and well thought of by men. It has gotten to the point that I spend more time considering how to say something in a interesting or clever way, without even asking God if He wants me to say it in the first place. I finally came to a brokenness about three weeks ago one Friday night. I realize that I have nothing worth giving in and of myself. I am worthless without Gods direct intervention. I had to ask for forgiveness from my church, for while I did not come across arrogantly all the time, I know it was in my heart and I thought "Listen up! You need to hear this!" I realize this was sin. God calls it such over and over in Scripture. It's so bad He says He will "resist the proud." No wonder I have felt like I was fighting God for the last few months!
I confessed it to the Lord and ask Him what he would have me do. I felt Him telling me to remove the area I was most tempted in, leading out at church. I confessed it to the Brotherhood and asked for their forgiveness which the graciously gave. I felt I had emptied myself of all that I held of worth, but I had my peace back. God was so real when He said, "Let the peace of God rule in your heart." When we lose that peace, we had better go back to where we lost it and confess the sin, or we will never have the peace again.
Now, I find that I have again sought to do it all on my own and again come up woefully short, even with my children. I try and try to teach them what is right, only to have them turn around and disobey again. Maybe we aren't so different, just that we are different ages and I am being disciplined by someone I can't see but loves me more than I love my children.
Remember that warm, fuzzy feeling you got right after a spanking? That's what I'm waiting for right now.
A few postings ago I alluded to a area of shortcoming in my life. That area is the pride of my heart. I do almost everything to be seen of and well thought of by men. It has gotten to the point that I spend more time considering how to say something in a interesting or clever way, without even asking God if He wants me to say it in the first place. I finally came to a brokenness about three weeks ago one Friday night. I realize that I have nothing worth giving in and of myself. I am worthless without Gods direct intervention. I had to ask for forgiveness from my church, for while I did not come across arrogantly all the time, I know it was in my heart and I thought "Listen up! You need to hear this!" I realize this was sin. God calls it such over and over in Scripture. It's so bad He says He will "resist the proud." No wonder I have felt like I was fighting God for the last few months!
I confessed it to the Lord and ask Him what he would have me do. I felt Him telling me to remove the area I was most tempted in, leading out at church. I confessed it to the Brotherhood and asked for their forgiveness which the graciously gave. I felt I had emptied myself of all that I held of worth, but I had my peace back. God was so real when He said, "Let the peace of God rule in your heart." When we lose that peace, we had better go back to where we lost it and confess the sin, or we will never have the peace again.
Now, I find that I have again sought to do it all on my own and again come up woefully short, even with my children. I try and try to teach them what is right, only to have them turn around and disobey again. Maybe we aren't so different, just that we are different ages and I am being disciplined by someone I can't see but loves me more than I love my children.
Remember that warm, fuzzy feeling you got right after a spanking? That's what I'm waiting for right now.
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