Da-Da Fix It

By Susan Dollyhigh –

“Broke,” my grandson, Drew, said as he held up his red Matchbox car in one hand and a set of wheels in another. I watched as a frown furrowed Drew’s forehead while he turned the car over and tried to snap the wheels back into place.

With all of the manual dexterity of a two-year-old, Drew worked to replace the wheels on the underside of his small car. But, it soon became evident, even to Drew, that this problem was too difficult for him. I expected Drew to become frustrated, perhaps cry or maybe even throw his toy down, but he walked over and calmly placed it on the coffee table; looked over at Amy, his mama, and said, “Da-Da fix it.”

Drew left his broken car on the table and turned around to play with something else.

“Whenever something breaks,” Amy said, “Drew just puts it down and says, ‘Da-Da fix it.’ He thinks his Daddy can fix anything.”

I have many things in life that I hold up and say, “Broke.” Relationships, finances, health – “broke.”  A frown furrows my forehead while I try to put the pieces of my life back together.

With all the spiritual maturity of my fifty-four years, I work to fix my problems until it becomes evident that they are too difficult for me. Unlike Drew, sometimes I do become frustrated, cry and even throw up my hands in despair.

Yet the Lord tells us to give him our broken pieces; to place them at the foot of the cross, walk away, and have enough faith to say, my Heavenly Father will fix it. I know He can fix anything.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us and hearing us when we cry out to You. Thank You for being close to us when we are brokenhearted. Thank You for the promise of delivering us from all our troubles.

BIBLE VERSE: “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all” (Psalm 34:17 – 19 NIV).

 

Walking in Daddy’s Shoes

By Susan Dollyhigh –

Drew, my two-year-old grandson, wobbled into the living room with his daddy’s size eleven gray Nikes on his small feet. I watched as Drew held up his short arms for balance while his toothpick-looking legs shuffled one large shoe in front of the other. Beneath his blonde curls, his smiling face said, “Look at me, I’m walking in my Daddy’s shoes.”

Like most small boys, Drew wants to walk like his Daddy walks, talk like his Daddy talks, and mimic his every action. My son, Eric watched Drew struggle, stumble and even almost fall as he made his way across the room. But Eric never took his eyes off of Drew; he was ready to catch him if he fell. Drew finished his journey, and stood in front of his proud Daddy where he heard, “Good job, Drew!”

Major decisions, financial concerns, and family problems sometimes leave me feeling like I’m wobbling through life while trying to shuffle through problems that are way too big for me.

Yet, like Drew, I want to walk like my Father walks, talk like my Father talks, and mimic His every action. I know my Heavenly Father is watching as I struggle, stumble, and sometimes almost fall. But He never takes His eyes off of me; He is ready to catch me if I fall. So, I need to put a smile on my face, shuffle along, and focus on my Father. Someday, when I complete my journey here on earth, and stand before my Him, I hope I too will hear, “Good job!”

PRAYER: Father, I know my help comes from You, the Maker of heaven and earth. Thank You for keeping me from all harm and watching over my life.

BIBLE VERSE: “He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalms 121:3-4 NIV).

To Love and To Honor

By Carin LeRoy –

Years ago, a group of men at work complained about their wives during lunch break. Each man took turns and shared criticisms about his spouse. As my dad listened to them grumble and find fault, he finally stood and said, “My wife satisfies me.” Then he walked out. He was fed up listening to their gripes. I’m sure he made an impression as he interrupted their complaint session and abandoned the conversation. Although my mom and dad had a great marriage, they still had their disagreements. Instead of chipping in his criticism, he chose to respect my mother in front of others.

I’ve listened to others tell things on their spouse that were better left unsaid. Negative talk about our spouse in front of others does not show value or respect and can influence how others view him or her. Christ tells us to guard our tongue. Proverbs 10:19 says, “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.”

Let’s make a conscious effort to respect and honor our spouse. Don’t complain, criticize or devalue them before others. We did vow to love and honor them on our wedding day, so let’s keep that promise.

PRAYER: Lord, keep me mindful that criticizing my spouse before others is not helpful or wise. Help me to guard my words and show honor and respect in my marriage. May the words I speak give value, not harm, to my spouse.

BIBLE VERSE: “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone,” (Colossians 4: 6 NIV).

Anticipate, Commemorate and Appreciate

By Hally Franz –

Shopping for souvenirs was once an important part of the vacation experience. I remember the first time I ever flew. I, along with five other schoolmates, had been awarded a two-week trip to Saltillo, Mexico to study Spanish. It was the summer between my sophomore and junior year of high school, and I had done very little traveling prior to this. I remember diligently shopping for trinkets for family and friends. I bought ceramic ashtrays for my grandfathers and dad. I purchased several dazzling, velvet sombreros for my sister and others. This trip was a big deal to me and my family; I wanted to remember it.

In the thirty years since then, travel has become much more commonplace. Typically, people don’t buy souvenirs for those at home. I’ve even noticed that cameras are sometimes left behind. While at one time, we wouldn’t dream of taking a vacation or trip somewhere without commemorating it with photos, these days people may not even bother, except of course to post a phone photo on facebook. The art of anticipating and reflecting on special events, trips and family vacations seems to have been lost.

Today, we have less time to look forward to exciting events, because they seem to happen with greater frequency. As soon as one event has come and gone, there is another to plan and prepare for. Likewise, we rarely have and/or take time to review pictures and talk about special memories made.

While it’s important to fully appreciate life as it happens, it is also good to savor feelings of excitement before and cherish moments after special times in our lives. As we approach fall, take time to recall and relish special memories made throughout this summer. Thank God for the blessings of family and fond memories to last well beyond this season and years into the future.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for the blessings of good times spent with family and friends. Lord, help me to hold these memories in my heart, appreciating each of them as gifts from You.

BIBLE VERSE: “It is good to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High” (Psalm 92:1 NKJV).

Three Overflows

By Robin J. Steinweg –

1. A fizzy hissing in the background crescendos within seconds to a fizzy, hissy crackling. A nasty odor assaults the nostrils before my frantic rush can prevent its cause. It’s not the first time I forgot to set the timer on the stove! Now breakfast is over—over the pot, the burner, the counter, the floor…

2. I see it coming and I leap to prevent it—the action switches to slow motion. My toddler has developed the strength and dexterity to remove the lid from a jar of pickled beets (a feat I have yet to master without benefit of a crowbar). A distant voice (my own) cries, “N-n-n-n-n-n-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!” I dive (still in slow-mo) like a 275-pound receiver to catch the 12 ounces of Red-Stain-in-a-Bottle before the contents hit the floor. In seconds it, too, is over—over the table, the high chair, the beige carpet and me.

3. Like the jar of pickled beets, I am emptied. I wait. I set no timer. My Bible lies on my lap, still open to the passage I have read. I sense a crescendo of joy bubbling up into awe, gratitude and praise. I don’t rush to prevent it spilling over—over me, under me, around me—I dive deeper. I am a different kind of receiver today. This overflow will result in a sweet fragrance. It can cleanse the deepest stain. No chaos or mess this time.

The Spirit of God fills me to overflowing. In this way, He slakes the thirst, satisfies the hunger and meets the needs of those around me.

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, empty me of myself and fill me to overflowing with Yourself: Your Word, Your way, Your life. Spill out to bless those around me. I ask in Jesus’ name to be a fragrant offering to You.

BIBLE VERSE: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint me with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:5-6 NIV).

« Previous Page — Next Page »