Monthly Archives: October 2013

Who knows?

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Skylar, Autumn, MicahHaving long-distance relatives isn’t ideal, since our together-time has to be minimal. But this week I’m pleased to be under the same roof with 6 of our out-of-town relatives: daughter Linnea, her husband Adam, Skylar, Micah, Autumn, and their baby brother who’s riding along in his mommy’s tummy. On our next visit, we’ll get to see and hold him, too.

When Nate was still with us, two of our grands had already been born, Skylar in Florida and Nicholas in England. But when he died, those two were still just babies, 15 and 10 months respectively. Nate never got the chance to watch them grow and change or to meet the other 6 (almost 7) that followed.

I consider it a huge blessing to have known them for as long as I have, even though the oldest is only five. But we can carry on conversations, play games, read together, share stories, bake cookies, and go places. Nate has missed out on all of it.

Or has he?

What’s the probability that he knows his 7 additional grands? Randy Alcorn wrote a book (based solely on Scripture) entitled HEAVEN. He makes a powerful case for Nate’s awareness of his grandchildren, citing passages in both the Old and New Testaments to substantiate that those in heaven know what’s transpiring on earth.

The girlsFor example, based on Revelation 19 he writes, “Heaven’s inhabitants are shown praising God for specific events of judgment that have just taken place on Earth. The saints in Heaven are clearly observing what is happening on Earth. Those on Earth may be ignorant of events in Heaven, but those in Heaven are not ignorant of events on Earth, at least some of these events.” (p. 24)

Another passage in Luke 15 refers to rejoicing that goes on “in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” Alcorn writes, “Notice this Scripture does not speak of rejoicing by the angels but in the presence of angels. I believe it logically includes not only God but the saints in Heaven… If they rejoice over conversions happening on Earth, then obviously they must be aware of what’s happening on Earth… down to the details of specific individuals coming to faith in Christ.” (p. 25)

One boyAlcorn cites many other verses on which he bases his conclusions, making a strong case for heavenly minds being far superior to what we now have on Earth. The bottom line, if I believe Scripture, is that Nate does know all of his grands and hasn’t missed a thing. Theologians might debate that into the ground, but as one half of a grandma/grandpa pair, I want to believe it.

As we enjoy each other during these two weeks together in earthly Michigan, I like to think Nate will be having just as much fun watching from his heavenly vantage point.

“This is the plan: At the right time [God] will bring everything together under the authority of Christ – everything in heaven and on earth.” (Ephesians 1:10)

Dogged Through Life

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I come from a long line of dog-lovers. Both of my folks grew up with dogs and told stories of how difficult it was to eventually say goodbye. Dad liked the trustworthiness of dogs, and Mom saw them as good examples of unconditional love. (She returned the favor by keeping Milk Bones in her purse.)

Toby.Our childhood dog, Toby, lived 16 pampered years with us, but cancer eventually took over. One day while we were all away at college, Mom and Aunt Agnes made the excruciating decision to have Toby put to sleep. It was the kind thing to do, since he was in constant pain. But the minute Mom got home she changed her mind and called the vet. “Don’t do it! I’m coming to get him!”

The vet was one step ahead of her, though. “You’re not the first one to call me back,” he said. “Your Toby is already gone.”

As hard as that was, Mom knew he’d done her a favor. Making that decision once was hard enough. Twice would have been impossible.

She wasn’t dog-lonely for long, however. Through the years, her doggie-desires were abundantly satisfied with lots of grand-dogs, since she and Dad raised a family of dog-lovers, too.

Mom and her 9 grand-dogs

(Montego, Pepper, Gunnar, Wrigley, Sydney, Wilbur, Jack, Strider, Blue)

I think God is pleased when we love the creatures he’s made. That includes dogs, cats, gerbils, canaries, and every other animal people give a name to and care for as family members. Appreciating animals is to appreciate the One who originally gave them to us.

And if that’s true, then valuing the pinnacle of his creation (people) is even more important, more dear to him. We might say, “But animals are easy to love, because they always love you back. People can be downright unlovable. God doesn’t expect us to love that kind.”

Then we read the Bible:“This is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” (1 John 3:11) God’s instruction has always been (and always will be) to love each other and act accordingly. He doesn’t say, “I know it’s hard to love those who make your life miserable, so just love the ones you ‘click’ with.”

Why do we have to love everybody? He gives a two-part answer: (1) “Love them because I love them,” (John 3:16) and (2) “Love the not-so-good-ones because I love you.” (Romans 5:8)

And there’s one more reason. Scripture tells us no one can see God and live afterwards, but if we consistently show love to others, especially to the unlovables, people will see God-in-us, which is exactly the reason he wants us to do it.

Jackie-boy.So when we’re ready to try loving unconditionally, we know where to go for our first lesson: to our doggie friends, because they model it really well.

“If God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” (1 John 4:11-12)

What’s next?

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Leaning on MaryYesterday I blogged about the webinar that took place two weeks ago, an unnerving experience that turned out to be a wonderful opportunity. My sister Mary, who I’ve leaned on since we were little girls, agreed to drive the 90 minute round trip with me… twice. “It’ll be fun,” she said, letting go of whatever else she’d planned to do that day. Her presence was a great stabilizer.

After praying with me in the parking lot before the webinar she said, “I’ll just stay in the car and work on my Bible study while you’re inside. Let me know if you need me.”

As it turned out, I did. Following the webinar, two editors expressed interest in another book possibility. Since Mary and I had begun writing about motherhood 10 years ago, we were able to share those ideas and receive professional editor- input. (Mary remembered far more than I did.) Although we hadn’t studied our files for years, talking to the editors relit our desire to write a book from old mommies to young mommies about what we wish we’d known at the beginning.

On the way home we marveled at how God moves his light along life’s path one next-step at a time, but not till he’s ready. Nothing may come of this book idea that’s been lying dormant for 7 years, but suddenly he has lit one step and asked us to walk into it.

A feastOn the way home we pulled into McDonald’s and decided to eat outdoors, since the weather was picture-perfect. We found a sunny curb out back and continued talking about the step we’d just taken. Before long a seagull appeared, begging for a French fry.

 

Wounded birdie As we tossed him one, he hopped closer, and we noticed he was holding up one leg. His other foot was discolored and withered.

It was an interesting parallel to our conversation. The bird might have said, “I see those French fries but can’t walk over there.”

Mary and I could say, “There are a million books on motherhood, most written by experts. Who wants to hear from two regular moms? Let’s not take that step.” We might have said that, even while facing a lighted path.

But the bird hopped on over, and we fed him well. Mary and I have decided to hop forward, too. Maybe the book won’t come to fruition, but whenever God lights the way, it’s a good idea to step into it.

The lighted pathNone of us has the luxury of seeing all the way down a path that’s mostly in the shadows. But when God illuminates even a small part of it, we can step (or hop) forward with confidence. And that’s especially true when most of the path is still in the dark.

“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known; along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them.” (Isaiah 42:16)