Category Archives: Forgiveness

A Powerful Punch

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This week I’ve been re-immersed in the world of the young, visiting daughter Linnea’s family in Florida. That includes husband Adam and 4 young ‘uns: Skylar (6), Micah (5), Autumn (3), and Isaac (1).

Long-distance grandparenting has considerable limitations, and when I’m invited to join them day-to-day for a while, getting caught up with each one is a joyful process. Though this family traveled to see me in Michigan multiple times in 2014, it’s been a whole year since I’ve been to their home.

4 Florida grands

My 4 Florida grands are changing faster than I can keep up with. Take their home schooling, for example. This morning I audited their mommy’s history lesson at the dining table and learned all kinds of new things about World War II, Hitler, Stalin, the United Nations, the Cold War, Gandhi, India’s independence, the establishing of the Jewish State, Communism, Mao, and China. And that was all before lunch.

A thirst for knowledge is a wonderful thing, and watching children learn is a delight. But the day’s highlight for me came after school was all over. Actually, it was during a spat between Skylar and Micah. They were bickering about nothing in particular, shouting over each other, when suddenly Skylar said, “Micah! Harsh words make tempers flare!”

Her statement was right out of the Bible,* and I was pleased to hear her recite a previously-memorized verse. More than that, though, was the thrill of knowing she could apply it to everyday life. Linnea, preparing dinner nearby, added the first half of the same verse: “Yes, and a ‘gentle answer turns away wrath’.” Immediately their squabble ended, much like a balloon that’s been poked by a pin.

It reminded me of a scriptural comment about the effect of Jesus’ words on his listeners. “People were amazed at his teaching, for he spoke with authority.”  (Luke 4:32) Though the Bible tells us he was an ordinary-looking man,** his hearers were amazed that his words packed such a powerful punch.

The Lord’s words still have that same punch, and I believe I saw it at work during Skylar and Micah’s argument. Though children may not be aware of it, when they quote the Bible to each other sincerely, they’re bringing supernatural power to bear on whatever’s going on at the time.

CooperatingNot that every childhood argument will immediately stop when a verse is spoken, but it very well might be. God honors his Word and says it’s influential when verbalized.*** And when a child has been taught to respect and honor what he says, surely the impact is all the greater.

“Amazed, the people exclaimed, “What authority and power this man’s words possess!”  (Luke 4:36)

* Proverbs 15:1        **Isaiah 53:1-2         *** Romans 10:16-17 &  Revelation 1:3

Hanging On

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Nate wanted to go to Harvard University. He made his decision while still in junior high and worked diligently throughout high school, always reaching for his dream.

As a senior he applied early to Harvard, wanting to be in the first wave of acceptance letters, but had failed to consider one important factor. While he was the managing editor of the school newspaper, he’d written a series of harsh articles about two of the school’s teachers. In his opinion, they were more interested in coaching sports than teaching history, and he expounded on this in the newspaper.

Of course the teachers were insulted and let Nate know it. What he’d forgotten was his need for university recommendations from these same teachers, since he would be a history major. One of them had bluntly told Nate, “I’ll see to it you never get into Harvard.”

That might have been a frustrated high school student’s inflated opinion of the conversation, but the bottom line was a rejection letter from Harvard. Nate’s hopes were dashed, and receiving acceptances from several other excellent universities didn’t ease his pain.

None of us completely get our way as we go through life. After a crushing disappointment, it’s what we do next that determines whether or not we’ll be able to distance ourselves from the event. We can either mull it over again and again, increasing our resentment, or we can tell God, “You deal with it, because I can’t.”

I don’t think Nate ever experienced complete freedom from the malice of that history teacher. The teacher probably thought very little about Nate after he graduated, but Nate often thought about him. Turning it over to God would have been beneficial.

Last Sunday our pastor quoted Martin Luther who said, “There are only two days on my calendar. Today and that day,” meaning the day we meet our Maker. The hurtful events of yesterday shouldn’t be allowed to bind us today. It’s our choice, though. We can drag all the unfair stuff along with us, risking ruining today, or we can say no to that, with God’s help.

One day, after Nate and I had been married nearly a year, he told me the Harvard rejection story. He’d graduated with a strong GPA from Northwestern University and was about to graduate honorably from the University of Illinois Law School, so the Harvard rejection didn’t matter much to me. But as he talked, I could sense he was still hurting.

But we were newlyweds, and our “today” was lots of fun, so I tried to encourage him back into it. “If you’d gone to Harvard, we wouldn’t have met!”

I watched his pain melt, and he said, “Oh, I would have come back to the Midwest to get you.”

We only have today (which we know), and that day (which we don’t know).

“…of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” (Matthew 24:36)

Rush to Judgment

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photo 2This week we experienced the fun of a completed deck in our back yard. Michigan Lake and Land did an expert job, cutting no corners and satisfying my every whim. They cooperated with all my ideas, everything from building a weather-proof room beneath the deck to designing two super-sturdy baby gates that “disappear” into deck fencing when they’re locked in place.

photo 1I’ve kept my eye open for reasonable deck furniture, nothing cushy, just tables and chairs that will rain-wash well. Two second-hand tables got face-lifts with fresh paint, and I couldn’t wait to set it all up.

Once the white paint had dried (in the basement), I turned each painted piece a bit each day for a full week, making sure every edge was dry so not one drop of paint would end up on the deck.

Stepping up Then this weekend, it was time to assemble it all. After carrying each piece to the deck, I was appalled to see drops of paint on every other step and scattered at random on the boards. Squatting to see if it was, indeed, wet paint, I was crushed when the drops smeared beneath my finger.

How could that have happened after I tried to be so careful? And how was I going to get the paint off the boards without ruining the stain?

Then God answered my questions. A big bird flew overhead, letting go of a liquid deposit that landed right next to me, a white splotch that splattered just enough to toss random drops here and there. The paint spots, it turned out, weren’t paint at all, just white bird-do, an easy-off with a wet rag.

My rush to judgment was typical me, sizing up a situation without all the facts. It isn’t serious when dealing with a deck, but in the case of a person, it can be disaster. Most scenarios aren’t what they first seem, and if we refrain from drawing quick conclusions about someone, new (and usually helpful) information always surfaces.

The Lord perfectly modeled how not to judge prematurely by not doing it with us. Instead of rushing to judgment (even though he actually has all the facts), he waits patiently till we figure it out on our own.

Let's eat...Jesus mentions in Scripture that he prays for us, and surely some of those prayers are that we’ll come under conviction as needed. He doesn’t bring down the hatchet too early but hopes instead we’ll voluntarily change whatever needs changing. Eating humble pie might be part of it, and though that never tastes good, it can nourish us well.

I certainly jumped to the wrong conclusion about my blemished deck, but I do think it’s accurate to say that bird won’t repent or change his behavior. No matter. It was an easy fix with a wet rag…. followed by a thorough hand washing.

Ready for conversation“Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.” (John 7:24)

Praising and Praying with Mary

  1. Pray for tomorrow’s chemo #9. Your prayers are holding back the nausea!
  2. I’m praising God that after tomorrow, I’ll be half way through!