Sunday, July 31, 2011

For such is the Kingdom of Heaven

Today was a glorious, sultry summer day. My son, and his wife and my step-grandson came over for a barbecue at our house. Poppi (my husband) was the grillmaster (that man has a way with chicken!)   Everyone of us enjoyed the food immensely. But it was something that happened after we had eaten, that will be a memory for this grandma (or Mimi, as my grandson calls me).  My grandson said, "Poppi, can we go out and play with the hose?" He is almost 8 and a real live-wire. So Poppi took him out while we gals were clearing dishes and staying in the air-conditioning. My son calls me to the back door and says, "come out to the backyard". So off I went with my daughter-in-law and her mom to go watch the "water show". There was Poppi holding the hose and spraying a laughing, running, squealing, fully-clothed Mateo! As we stood watching, my son got in the act and soon was almost as wet as Mateo, laughing and having a grand time, forgetting for a moment the cares of his stressful job and the weak economy! Then, Mateo got the hose and started squirting Poppi who soon looked like he had just been baptized in a river!

All of us gals enjoyed the water gala from a safe distance.  When it was all over the guys all came in and we found towels and something dry for everyone to wear. But the fun wasn't over yet because as
Mateo was in the basement with a big T-shirt of Poppi's covering him while his clothes were in the dryer, he found an old paintbrush. I had a flashback of my son when he was small playing in the back yard with an old paintbrush and bucket of water and "painting" the sidewalk.  When I told Mateo the story, he said, "Mimi, can we go out in the front and paint with a bucket of water?" So out he and I and his other grandma went and watched as he painted the pillars, the stairs and himself with the paintbrush and water, getting his once dry, extra-long T-shirt sopping wet and pretending to be a "mad scientist" and getting Mimi and Grandma to go along with the story.  He even painted our feet with the
refreshing water and we sighed like we'd been to a spa! My son and daughter-in-law peeked out the door and couldn't believe he was soaking wet again, and that he had gotten the grandmas into the act this time. Soon, it was time for them to go home, so we had to stop our waterplay and get Mateo dried off, dressed in dry clothes again, and bundled into the car for the ride home.  Everyone felt cooler, and sleepy from the water, the sun, and the good food!

After they left and our house was dry and quiet again, I thought about how what we had experienced together as a family today, our joy and laughter and relaxation, all began with a child's simple appreciation for splashing around in some water on a hot, Chicago summer day. We all got caught up in his joy of being with family doing something silly and fun and not worrying about not having swimming trunks or a change of clothes. We all forgot for awhile the "adult" concerns of the world we live in and became "as children".  Watching my husband laughing and running around in the yard with the hose and then coming in completely drenched with a big ole smile on his face, made me think how
Jesus said, "suffer the children to come unto me, for such is the kingdom of heaven". The Kingdom of Heaven......a place where we as God's children will be able to enjoy many simple, yet profound days of pure joy with Him and our "family" through eternity; where we will see God laugh and delight in us as we delighted today in Mateo, and felt that special tie of our family connection.

 "And a little child shall lead them"......priceless!

Remember the line from an old hymn, "heaven came down and glory filled my soul"?  We need to  take time to capture glimpses here on earth of what it will be like in heaven as the family of God, enjoying peace and joy, and love together. Maybe I need to keep today's "glimpse" firmly in my mind as I go about the week ahead with all of the fears, distrust, and, skepticisim that will be sown on TV news each day! 

Thank you Lord for this special day and for giving me a peek into what waits for those of us who have
said YES to you by faith. I can only imagine!    http://youtu.be/7XaYXEPfGFs

Friday, July 29, 2011

VERSES AND SEASONS

Do you have a Bible verse that encapsulates the season you find yourself in?When I was younger my verse was Jeremiah 29:11 "I know the plans I have for you, plans for good and not for harm, to give you a future and a hope."


When I was a mom with young children I liked Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your path straight."  I found at times I had NO UNDERSTANDING of these children He'd given us, and needed him to lead the way for sure!


Now that my nest is empty and I am "Mimi" to my step-grandson,  Mateo, I have chosen Zephaniah 3:17,  "The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He takes great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love. He will rejoice over you  with singing."  I've always loved to sing,  I sang as a child, I sang to my babies, and as a teacher I still sing with my students!  But it thrills me to know that the Lord rejoices over ME with singing!  He sings songs of love with my name perhaps as I did with my own children when they were scrumptious babies and up until they became music critics! Why does he sing over me? Because he delights in me. I am precious to Him!  It comforts me to know he is with me! He has never forsaken me in all the years I've known Him, and he won't now as I'm growing older.  The verse says he is MIGHTY to save. He still has all his power and majesty and I can draw on it at a moment's notice when my own energy seems to be forsaking me! Which happens more often than I'd like to admit.


What season of life are you in dear sister? What verse is meaningful and precious to you right now in this season? Share it with someone today: a child, a spouse, a friend, a co-worker.  Journal why this verse has meaning for you now at this season. Commit it to memory.  Enjoy whatever season you are in, each season has it's own challenges and joys.


Here is a song that I have recently added to my favorites list:http://youtu.be/BFUHrXfuNU4