Playing it Safe, Sharing our Faith

By Hally Franz –

Michael Buble over The Biebs, tennis shoes over 7-inch heels, and book-club evenings over a night at the “clubs”—these preferences surely brand me a 40-something mom. I own it and am proud of it.

The thing I enjoy most about book-club gatherings is discovering differences present in our cohesive little group. While often we agree on a selection, I love times when we see things differently. When two or three of us find a main character whiny and self-absorbed, and others admire her process of self-discovery, it makes for lively conversation. If a few see the plot twist as being known by the book’s hero, but the rest feel he was as equally in the dark as we, that’s fun debate.

It’s a joy to get to know people who don’t always think like we do. I appreciate friends with interests, outlooks and personalities unlike mine. I can learn from them. But, how often do we really step out of our comfort zone?

While I enjoy the perspectives presented in book club, we are all very alike at the core. If we weren’t, we’d never have come together as a body. We all have groups in our lives. There are work-related groups, extended family groups, school-related groups, parent groups, faith groups and others. Perhaps of all those group types as a whole, I most closely align in thought and attitude with my church family. There is great safety among my brothers and sisters in Christ.

So, what expectations does God have for us to connect with those different from us? People of other cultures, near and in faraway places? Folks with opposing political views and faiths?

This is a confusing issue for me. I’d love to have a cut-and-dried rule on this, but, as with many questions we face, I think it boils down to observing an imaginary line.

Christians should take some risks to bring God’s word to people in other places and of other minds. We should be courageous enough to interact with those we might not normally, in the hopes of showing and sharing our faith with them. For me, the line may be the point at which interaction or association would further a sinful activity, or foster an ungodly belief.

More importantly, what would He do? Would Jesus observe any type of line? It’s a difficult question. How do you answer it?

PRAYER: Almighty God, when I’m faced with tough questions of faith, guide me to Your word and the example of Christ Jesus for answers, so that I may further Your kingdom and fulfill my role in it.

“I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness In the great assembly; Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O LORD, You Yourself know” (Psalm 40:9 NKJV).

Buffalo Flies and Bunnies

By Hally Franz –

Summer 2013 has generally been a cool, wet season in the mid-west. While my husband and I do not farm, we are smack-dab in the middle of farm country. And, I empathize with those who supply America’s food. One year is insanely dry; the next is damp. One year hay is in short supply, and the next it is plentiful, but cannot be harvested because the ground is too wet. That pretty much covers my knowledge of farming. Except this—due to this year’s climate, buffalo gnats have been horrible.

I’ve heard tales of ruthless buffalo gnats. They’re from the Simuliidae family and also called black flies. They can suck blood, cut human skin, cause allergic reactions, itch, cause swelling, and kill livestock and poultry. It has been a real challenge for those with animals to adequately protect them. Some 4-H youth even lost animals they planned to show at the county fair. The internet describes a variety of commercial and homemade solutions that may help attract (and trap) or repel these annoying creatures.

Closer to town, my son has a small garden in our yard, and he tells me he can’t keep rabbits out of his vegetables. I regularly ask if his harvest will actually yield something to eat, but he assures me the cotton-tailed rodents are terrorizing his plants. My mother supports her grandson’s claim. He has used marigolds in years past to repel rabbits from his garden. Though, he contends they become accustomed to the smell, and the flowers are no longer effective.

Wouldn’t it be comforting to have a fool-proof formula or technique for keeping bad influences, evil people, sin and hate away? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a wall of protection around us, so we could not fall victim to the world? If we could buy or make that in a spray, who would not choose to?

Unfortunately, that magic mix or method does not exist. We must rely on our self-discipline, wisdom, discernment, prayer and God’s protection when faced with everyday conflicts of conscience. We must continue along doing our best to fight the enemy knowing that it won’t always work and there will be losses.

Take heart, though, struggling farmers and the faithful. When we fight battles against those who oppose us, we learn. We learn how to fend off bothersome buffalo flies and hungry rabbits. And, we grow stronger in faith.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, provide me wisdom, so I will recognize and run from evil influences in the world and in my life. Through Your word, help me to teach my children to do the same.

“Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice wicked works With men who work iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies” (Psalm 141:4 NKJV).

No Two Alike

By Hally Franz –

Every day I am reminded of how different my two children are from one another. We have both a biological child and an adopted child, but I think this is something most parents observe even among biological siblings.

My son is serious-minded and independent, a bit of a loner. He loves anything old from classic movies and music to antique farm equipment. My daughter, on the other hand, is very social and a pleaser. She is more playful than responsible, a lover of trends. I recognize the benefits and pitfalls of both their personality types.

I once heard someone say that “equal is not always fair.” I think the expression was used in the context of education, but it applies to parenting as well. Treating my children the same is not always the right thing to do. What might be right for one, may not serve the best interests of the other. That’s yet another challenge of parenting—each child requires something different in terms of discipline, opportunity and counsel along the way.

I have two children, and, at times, I feel inadequate when I see mothers of four, five and more children managing their large families with grace and proficiency. However, the Lord blessed us with two, and they have managed to keep their father and I plenty busy.

Our Heavenly Father has how many children? Billions? He knows what each and every one of us needs. He is aware of our uniqueness, because he made us. And, He knows what lessons I need to learn, what weaknesses and gifts I have, what experiences will help me grow in faith. He has a handle on it all.

What a comfort it is to know that our Lord is constantly looking out for the best interests of all His children, even while we parents strive and struggle to know how best to handle ours.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please guide me each day in the rearing of my children. Help me to provide them with the training and tools they need to build happy, Christian lives and families.

“The Father has loved us so much! This shows how much he loved us: We are called children of God. And we really are his children. But the people in the world don’t understand that we are God’s children, because they have not known him” (1 John 3:1 ERV).

The Ivy

By Hally Franz –

Finally, spring has arrived! After a long and snowy winter, it’s a joy to feel warm breezes through open windows, pluck a dewy tulip from the garden, smell heavy piles of freshly-mowed grass, and experience the sensation of poison ivy when moist bumps pop up on winter-white skin. Rewind!

Yes, spring has sprung, and with it a variety of wonderful long-awaited pleasures. However, we forget all about THE IVY in the dead of winter.

My son worked for a landscaper friend of ours in April. They mulched beds and pulled weeds, and Ivan ended up with a nasty case of poison ivy. He’s had bouts with the vicious weed before, but this was his worst case to date, attacking his underarm and moving from there.

We treated the areas with anti-itch creams and drying lotions, which provided a bit of relief. However, after a solid week of scratching and spreading we called the doctor. He prescribed the big guns, a steroid to take care of the rash. Once the recommended dosage was gone, the situation was much improved, but it still took several days for it to disappear.

Poison ivy attacks without us knowing it. Many times we don’t recognize it or even see it in our environment. Some can sit right on it and be unaffected. Others are highly allergic to it. It may be a few bumps for some, but, for others, it may linger for weeks. Poison ivy seems more potent at the time of year when we may be most vulnerable, after months spent mainly indoors.

The sins in the world can be a bit like this wicked weed. I think about my children as they grow, and I wonder how they will handle the bad things they encounter in daily life. Will they recognize ungodly people and behaviors in their schools and community? Will they resist them, or will they be tempted to follow? If they fall, and they will at times, do they have the skills needed to leave a sinful pattern and grow in their faith?

I hope they do. Parents all hope for this. Perhaps our best defense against the disease of sin is to inoculate our children with a healthy dose of Christian faith, teach them to make wise decisions based on His word, and encourage them to come to us when they need aid.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please guide me in the rearing of my children and the teaching of all children in my circle, so that I will share with them Your word always as the guide for surviving the challenges they will face as they grow.

“He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way” (Psalm 25:9 NIV).

The Wedding Wall

By Hally Franz –

My grandparents would have been married 80 years this November, and while they didn’t reach that milestone, Grandpa and Grandma did celebrate 69 years of marriage. I always remember what year they were wed, because their 60th anniversary occurred the year my husband, Tim, and I were married. We just celebrated our 20th anniversary.

My aunt has a display of family photos I dearly love. One wall holds 5×7 photographs of every marriage our family has celebrated over the years; only three, which ended, have been removed. My grandparents’ black-and-white photo is at the top. The next row includes photos from the weddings of their four children. Eight of us eleven grandchildren, along with our spouses, fill the third row in full color. And the bottom group consists of wedding ceremonies for five of the 23 great-grandchildren. There are currently five great-great-grandchildren, with more weddings and babies added yearly.

My cousins and I sometimes gather at the photos and laugh at the ever-changing wedding styles. Big hair and bunned hair, full skirts and sheath dresses share the space. Long sleeves and sweetheart necklines evolve over generations to sleeveless and strapless. It’s fun to see how fashions have changed and how our family has grown in eight decades. The wall is a source of family pride.

Like wedding fashions and families, marriages evolve over time. Looking back, I can recall trials and triumphs Tim and I have experienced over the years.

Growing our family was a struggle, but eventually we experienced the joys of having a biological son and bringing home a beautiful adopted daughter. Tim recently celebrated thirty years of employment with his company, and he has supported me in my various endeavors outside and inside our home. There have been losses and times of turmoil – some years and memories better than others.

We’ve grown a lot in our faith since 1993, and our Heavenly Father has been with us during our most difficult and joyous times. If He had not, we may not have reached this anniversary.

So, what will the next twenty years bring? More photos added to my aunt’s wedding wall? No doubt. Perhaps a return to sleeves? I hope. Grandchildren? Not during the first ten, please. New goals and dreams? Of course. The comfort that each day we share will be because of Him, shared by Him, governed by Him, and blessed by Him. Absolutely!

PRAYER: Gracious God, thank You for the gift of marriage! Help us make each day count as a couple, enjoying our relationship while serving You in our home, church and community.

“Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples, Give to the LORD glory and strength.” (1 Chronicles 16:28 NKJV).

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