Thursday, August 30, 2012
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Ruling by Presidential Decree
I had considered writing a post about President Obama's shameless unconstitutional abuses of power, but Thomas Sowell beat me to it and, of course, has said it much better than I could have. This is a "must read" before you vote! READ MORE
Joy Comes in the Morning, Grandson Style
Sometimes God just gives you things.
Our two grandsons spent the night with us one evening this week. Zeke, the 5-year-old, slept in our guest room. Malachi, the 2-year-old (aka "El Destructo") slept in his playpen/bed in our bedroom.
So when the lady of the house woke up at 5:30 to get ready for work (much too early for me!) she did her best to quietly sneak out of the room without waking up little El Destructo. Of course, that didn't work. He was up in a flash and wanted out of that playpen.
I thought I would be a nice guy and try to keep him corralled for a while in the bedroom so that he didn't wake up his parents, who were asleep in our living room. So Peggy picked Malachi up from his playpen and deposited him into my arms as I laid in bed.
I am not the sharpest crayon in the box, but I have observed over the years that kids are usually more cuddly and snuggly when they first wake up. Malachi is such a ball of fire all day long that he hardly ever can stay still long enough to snuggle. The only chance for this kind of bonding is first thing in the morning.
So I took full advantage of the opportunity. At first he laid down, his head on the pillow next to mine, with his feet pointed away from me at a 90-degree angle. He babbled on and kept talking about something. I could only understand about every tenth word, but I was able to figure out he was talking about some game he had played with his brother Zeke.
Then he started getting restless and rolling around on the bed. He started playing tickle-belly, attacking my navel with everything he had. Of course I got him back.
After a good round of tickle-belly it was time to play tug-of-war with his blue blankie, which eventually evolved into a wrestling match that I finally let him win.
Then I tossed him into the air a few times and let him land on the bed next to me. He tried to jump on my belly and pin me down. We did this for a while until we both got tired, then he laid his head on the pillow again and started telling me another story that I could barely understand.
It was still dark in the room, and as I became fully awake, still listening to little Malachi babbling on about whatever it was, I was overwhelmed by a deep, warm, satisfying joy. I realized what a gift it was to be a "papaw" to this sweet little guy.
What a moment. What a treasure. What a blessing from God to experience the tender innocent love of a toddler grand-child.
Then God quietly spoke to me. He reminded me of how long it had been since I just laid down next to Him and babbled for a while. How long it had been since He and I just relaxed together and shared the love of a father and child.
I realized that the joy Malachi had given me, just by being there and playing around, was the same joy that I could give to God if I would make time to sit still with Him for a while and snuggle.
Things don't always have to be heavy. There is so much more to knowing God than doctrine and theology. Sometimes He just wants us to spend some time relaxing with Him. I believe that the God who created us enjoys having fun with His children.
It is an amazing thing to realize how much He loves us, and how much we can bless Him, if only we would just love on Him the way that grateful children should.
Our two grandsons spent the night with us one evening this week. Zeke, the 5-year-old, slept in our guest room. Malachi, the 2-year-old (aka "El Destructo") slept in his playpen/bed in our bedroom.
So when the lady of the house woke up at 5:30 to get ready for work (much too early for me!) she did her best to quietly sneak out of the room without waking up little El Destructo. Of course, that didn't work. He was up in a flash and wanted out of that playpen.
I thought I would be a nice guy and try to keep him corralled for a while in the bedroom so that he didn't wake up his parents, who were asleep in our living room. So Peggy picked Malachi up from his playpen and deposited him into my arms as I laid in bed.
I am not the sharpest crayon in the box, but I have observed over the years that kids are usually more cuddly and snuggly when they first wake up. Malachi is such a ball of fire all day long that he hardly ever can stay still long enough to snuggle. The only chance for this kind of bonding is first thing in the morning.
So I took full advantage of the opportunity. At first he laid down, his head on the pillow next to mine, with his feet pointed away from me at a 90-degree angle. He babbled on and kept talking about something. I could only understand about every tenth word, but I was able to figure out he was talking about some game he had played with his brother Zeke.
Then he started getting restless and rolling around on the bed. He started playing tickle-belly, attacking my navel with everything he had. Of course I got him back.
After a good round of tickle-belly it was time to play tug-of-war with his blue blankie, which eventually evolved into a wrestling match that I finally let him win.
Then I tossed him into the air a few times and let him land on the bed next to me. He tried to jump on my belly and pin me down. We did this for a while until we both got tired, then he laid his head on the pillow again and started telling me another story that I could barely understand.
It was still dark in the room, and as I became fully awake, still listening to little Malachi babbling on about whatever it was, I was overwhelmed by a deep, warm, satisfying joy. I realized what a gift it was to be a "papaw" to this sweet little guy.
What a moment. What a treasure. What a blessing from God to experience the tender innocent love of a toddler grand-child.
Then God quietly spoke to me. He reminded me of how long it had been since I just laid down next to Him and babbled for a while. How long it had been since He and I just relaxed together and shared the love of a father and child.
I realized that the joy Malachi had given me, just by being there and playing around, was the same joy that I could give to God if I would make time to sit still with Him for a while and snuggle.
Things don't always have to be heavy. There is so much more to knowing God than doctrine and theology. Sometimes He just wants us to spend some time relaxing with Him. I believe that the God who created us enjoys having fun with His children.
It is an amazing thing to realize how much He loves us, and how much we can bless Him, if only we would just love on Him the way that grateful children should.
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