THOUGHTS

May 4, 2020

as gleaned from my 2014 blogs...

Three year old Addie's sweet bedtime words to her mama:

"Now you go do your dishes and clean up my messes, 

and don't wake me up!"

Ahh the feminine mystic!

My daughter Robin took her child to a water park field trip, her huge polka dot beach bag slung on her shoulder filled with towels, sunscreen, water bottles, etc.  A little girl came up to her and exclaimed, "That looks like my grandma's underwear, only hers are bigger!"  Hmm.  Time to put on your big girl pants has new meaning.

Parenting has big shoes to fill: God's sandals.  He is the perfect parent, and yet He has called us to this daunting task.  Sometimes this race set before us is more like a mud run instead of nice smooth track with only painted lines so no one will bump or trip us up as we pass the baton.  Besides that, it's cloudy with a chance of smut out there.  We need to breathe the fresh breath of the Holy Spirit to keep going in this tainted world and protect the little ones.  

"Now suppose one of your fathers is asked by his son for a fish;

he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he?

Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he?

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,

how much more shall your heavenly Father give 

the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"

Luke 11:11-13

Have you asked Him lately, asked for the Holy Spirit?  

Try Him; He's a good Father?  

From a late 1800's American Tract Society called,  "The Peep of the Day," one I found at a Friends of the Library book sale:

"And did our Shepherd bid us feed His lambs?  Behold I have prepared the tenderest grass that grows on Zion's hill.  Here feeble lambs may find sweet nourishment, and gather strength to climb the verdant heights, where the fair flock on richer pasture feed.  Say not too soon I urge their tottering steps.  Should I forbear, on every side deceitful strangers stand, and beckon them away...amidst the hills of darkness and of death, where hungry beasts in every thicket hid, wait to devour; and should they e'er return, with fleeces all defiled and bleeding feet the wanderers would come.  Oh, can they know, too soon their Shepherd's voice, or love His name too soon, or in His gentle arms repose?  Then come, my little ones and hear me tell of Jesus' dying love.  If God shall pour His Spirit from on high, your infant hearts shall thrill with tenderness; you'll run to meet Your Shepherd's fond embrace: who shall forbid?  'This Jesus bids you come, and calls you His; and who shall pluck you from that pierced side?  'Tis Jesus' arms encircle you around; sight of all your foes, they'll bear you safe o'er many a rugged path and dangerous steep to the sweet fold on Zion's summit fair.  And have you lodged your darling in those arms, fond mother?  Did you, as his reason dawned, and he began to muse on things unseen, unfold the history of a Savior's love, and painful death?  And has that love won his?