Ok, I am feeling a little old here.
I am always the one cracking jokes with the kids on how old someone is. Want some examples? (If you don't just quit reading) Ok, They have been told that Nanny is so old, that Dirt was clean when she was little. Or Nanny is so old that when God said "Let there be light", she flicked the switch. Either way, I guess I deserved what happened the other night.
So, there we were Sarah (one of the twins) and I, playing the game Connect Four. It was just another Father/Daughter moment that I have come to appreciate more these days. While we were playing, the following conversation came up.
Sarah: Wow dad, your really good at this.
Dad: Well, I have had lots of practice.
Sarah: Really? Did you and mom used to play this?
Dad: No, I used to play this all the time when I was little. As a matter of fact, I was probably your age.
Sarah: Really? They had this game when you were little?
Dad: Yep
Sarah: I guess they were made out of wood though?
Dad: No, it was plastic just like this one.
Sarah: But, you could buy one made out of wood?
Dad: I don't think so.....
The conversation was completely innocent on her part. It really makes you wonder how your kids see you, and what they think about you. Everything that our kids are exposed to, creates who they are and who they will become. Take advantage of it.
Psalm 78
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
Oh Christmas Tree
Tis the season, and I dare say that I spent quite a long time finding the "PERFECT" tree for Christmas. I looked everywhere, and finally found it on a hill at Golgotha. It was a very expensive tree, yet it was given to me. Although probably not as pretty as the one in your home, I would consider this the best tree I have ever found.
On the tree there are only a few simple decorations. Some thorns, an inscription, some streaks of bright scarlet to light it up and probably the prettiest angel that you have ever seen. (The angel had to be nailed on.) I can't bring myself to put lights on it, I think simple is better.
Pooled up at at the base of the tree is only one present. It is suffucient for us all.
Forgive me when I flinched when you asked me if we had put up our Christmas tree. Like it or not, we all already have.
On the tree there are only a few simple decorations. Some thorns, an inscription, some streaks of bright scarlet to light it up and probably the prettiest angel that you have ever seen. (The angel had to be nailed on.) I can't bring myself to put lights on it, I think simple is better.
Pooled up at at the base of the tree is only one present. It is suffucient for us all.
Forgive me when I flinched when you asked me if we had put up our Christmas tree. Like it or not, we all already have.
Holidays
Christmas? What can I say? I have never been much more than the "Bah Humbug" type, but none the less it serves many important reminders for us. First and foremost, it should remind us of the Birth of our Savior.
Several weeks ago I was sitting on a plane on a long flight from Calgary Canada and had a revelation of sorts. It was something I will never forget as long as I live. On the opposite side of the plane from where I was sitting, there was a women traveling with a baby. The child couldn't have been more than several months old. Like most children on a flight, they tend to cry a lot when ascending or descending due to their ears hurting from the pressure changes. Everyone else's ears were hurting from the little child's cries.... I however found myself sympathizing with the little guy's dilemma. Due to a childhood illness I have issues with my ears on flights, and I have felt like screaming during a rapid decent myself....
Once the plane reached "It's normal cruising altitude", the child settled down and went to sleep. I found myself looking over at the child. They are so peaceful and cute when they are sleeping. So innocent and helpless, and so trusting. I started wondering where this child would be when it grew up. How he would love. How he would live. Who he would be and the things he would accomplish. It was the same thoughts that I had every time when I hold my own children.
I started thinking, about my own heavenly father and the Christmas nativity. There Jesus lay in the manger. An innocent and helpless child. His Earthly mother and father watching over him. Joseph and Mary had the same thoughts as I did for sure. They knew this child they looked upon was God's son but I can't help but believe that they had the same questions as I did. His heavenly Father and all the Angels were also looking down upon him. Then all of the sudden, something hit me like a ton of bricks.
God and the Angels KNEW what would happen to the Christ that lay there in that Manger. That mere child laying there, would be the Savior of this World. That he would be beaten and whipped, then die on a cross for all of OUR sins. The pain and suffering he felt......... As a father my self, all I could do is sit there and cry just as God and the Angels must have. To say the least, I got some strange looks from other people around me, but it didn't matter. In the end, nothing but God will matter.
I believe that from that day onward I will never be able to look at a nativity scene and think of anything else. Everyone else might look at a nativity scene and hear "Joy to the World", "Silent Night" or "The First Noel". I will look at the same scene and hear "Amazing Grace" and "Oh Come all ye Faithful".
As I have painfully learned this year, our time on this Earth is relatively short. We are children of God, not just creatures of this world. We never know when we will reach the end because we each have our own finish line. Don't just be a spectator, come run the race.
Happy Holidays Everyone!
Several weeks ago I was sitting on a plane on a long flight from Calgary Canada and had a revelation of sorts. It was something I will never forget as long as I live. On the opposite side of the plane from where I was sitting, there was a women traveling with a baby. The child couldn't have been more than several months old. Like most children on a flight, they tend to cry a lot when ascending or descending due to their ears hurting from the pressure changes. Everyone else's ears were hurting from the little child's cries.... I however found myself sympathizing with the little guy's dilemma. Due to a childhood illness I have issues with my ears on flights, and I have felt like screaming during a rapid decent myself....
Once the plane reached "It's normal cruising altitude", the child settled down and went to sleep. I found myself looking over at the child. They are so peaceful and cute when they are sleeping. So innocent and helpless, and so trusting. I started wondering where this child would be when it grew up. How he would love. How he would live. Who he would be and the things he would accomplish. It was the same thoughts that I had every time when I hold my own children.
I started thinking, about my own heavenly father and the Christmas nativity. There Jesus lay in the manger. An innocent and helpless child. His Earthly mother and father watching over him. Joseph and Mary had the same thoughts as I did for sure. They knew this child they looked upon was God's son but I can't help but believe that they had the same questions as I did. His heavenly Father and all the Angels were also looking down upon him. Then all of the sudden, something hit me like a ton of bricks.
God and the Angels KNEW what would happen to the Christ that lay there in that Manger. That mere child laying there, would be the Savior of this World. That he would be beaten and whipped, then die on a cross for all of OUR sins. The pain and suffering he felt......... As a father my self, all I could do is sit there and cry just as God and the Angels must have. To say the least, I got some strange looks from other people around me, but it didn't matter. In the end, nothing but God will matter.
I believe that from that day onward I will never be able to look at a nativity scene and think of anything else. Everyone else might look at a nativity scene and hear "Joy to the World", "Silent Night" or "The First Noel". I will look at the same scene and hear "Amazing Grace" and "Oh Come all ye Faithful".
As I have painfully learned this year, our time on this Earth is relatively short. We are children of God, not just creatures of this world. We never know when we will reach the end because we each have our own finish line. Don't just be a spectator, come run the race.
Happy Holidays Everyone!
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