We Must Become as Little Children

Yesterday I was busy teaching Will how to scoop our driveway.  He wanted me to stay out there for a while in order to help him learn how to do the job correctly.  I was happy to see him want to do the job to the best of his abilities.  I came inside later only to notice that Abby was gone so I asked Anne where she might be. 

“Abby is outside scooping!”  I said that I didn’t see her, so I went outside and spotted her down the road scooping out our neighbor’s driveway.  I was a little concerned for Will at the time; he wanted to scoop driveways in the neighborhood to raise money for himself.  So my first reaction was one of concern since Abby might be perceived by Will as taking away his potential business. 

Talking to Anne about my concerns, she told me that Abby wanted to help our neighbors out for free.  Anne said that Abby told one elderly neighbor when asked what she wanted for shoveling his driveway, Abby responded by saying, “That’s ok, my daddy has been doing this in the past winters, helping others out with their driveways and I just wanted to do the same." Needless to say, I was humbled and very proud of our little 9-year-old girl.  And so,

her daddy went out and helped his little girl finish the driveways. 

Taking Time For Reflection

Abby's Photos

Sometimes the events in our lives are so powerful that they dictate our paths that we travel.  When taking the time to pause and reflect on our day, we find that it gives us back the control that we have lost.  During those moments of meditation we find a place of peace, and it is at those times that we hear God's gentle and quiet voice speaking to us.

Seeing Through the Eyes of a Child

My daughter Abby (now 9) has always found the beauty in everything. She is much like her mother, Anne. Abby has taught me to see even the beauty of the dandelion. (Many of us see them as weeds) She has always picked them as bouquets for her mom.

I am still learning in what Jesus already knew, "We must become like little children. . ." Matt. 18:3  

I am just beginning to understand, that to learn from a child is not going backwards, it is seeing through the eyes of our Lord.

Admitting You Need Help

Have you ever thought of how nice it would be to float away into the sky?  Sometimes I have thought that it would be so wonderful to drift away when difficult situations seemed overwhelming.  Looking down at the world and its challanges from afar, not really being a part of everything, viewing problems only as a spectator.

But then I realize that it would not solve the challenge before me, it would only delay what I am facing no matter where I went.

Watching a little child, you might have seen them struggle, "Self can do it!"  and not want your help.  But, you patiently wait for them to try a sometimes overwhelming task and you can't interfere until they admit that they need your assistance.  Like the gentle parent, God waits patiently for us to reach up to him for help.
 I have come to realize at those times that God is always there to help me, and so I call on him (sometimes reluctantly) to help me.  I need, at times, to remind myself that I am his child, and like a child, I need to admit that I need his help to see a way through my troubles.

Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said to them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Serving With a Grateful Heart

Serving another with a gentle and humble heart is giving of yourself without the thought of personal gain. Your only desire is to be a blessing to the other. 

On the other hand, when you serve someone without their gratitude for your service, it can be difficult to say the least. It is during those times that I have to rely on the grace of God for what he has done for me. It is a reminder for myself that Jesus did this for me as well, while I was yet ungrateful and selfish. 

I am finding that as I grow, modeling is perhaps the greatest witness that I can have. Doing the right thing is sometimes very hard, but God gives one the grace and strength if we ask this of him. A. Thurmer.