Puppy Dog Eyes

       “Mommy, I wanna puppy!” she says as she looks at me with those hard to resist ‘puppy dog eyes.’  “No.” I reply instinctively without hesitation.  Though my daughter is 18 now and has a full time job, she is still being told no.  When she was younger the excuse was her age.  As a teen it was lack of time and no consistent responsibility.  Now it is lack of money, time, effort, and inability to find a home for the animal if we go away.  “My friend will take it.”  I’m thinking maybe friend’s Mom wouldn’t agree.

       Amy’s upped her frequency in asking to every time she sees a puppy, and to explain, every dog, no matter size or age, is a puppy.  Even tv dogs count.  “No.  No.  No.”  How could I say yes when she has no money to take care of it and isn’t home twelve or more hours a day four days a week, works five and goes out on the weekends?  She thinks she can handle it all, but I know better due to experience.  I’ve seen a lot in wait, uh, figuring, 47 years.  Someday when she’s on her own, she’ll get one and will see for herself, or she’ll have a different schedule by then.  Who knows?

        As a parent we see things from a broader perspective- more fully than our children who have less experience.  Now imagine our Father God: He who makes no mistakes, has been forever and knows the future of all eternity (Is. 46:10).  He fully knows the past and the future of everyone, and everything in every place (Ac. 15:18; Ps. 33:13; 147:5).  This means He knows better than us.  How does this play into our lives?  Well, when we try to use ‘puppy dog eyes’ or begging on the Lord, giving Him all the valid reasons why we need or want something to happen, to have, to do or see, He sometimes says “Wait” or “No.”  It’s not to be mean, cold hearted, unconcerned about our desires, but He knows all and knows what is best for us and everyone else.

       Probably the most difficult time in trusting this is when a loved one is very sick and dying, and the Lord chooses not to heal (especially a child).  “Why?  Why Lord?  What is the purpose in his/ her death?  What did I do wrong?”  Death is a part of life and we all do wrong things so that last part is not at issue.  Sometimes God tells us the purpose behind things He allows, but I find most of the time He doesn’t.  Do we trust Him enough that at those times we believe He is out for our good and the good of our loved ones?  That’s tough!

Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. Ps. 119:68 (all KJV)

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good Ps. 136:1

But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. Jr. 9:24

       Looking back I can see many good things that happened because of the trials I had to go through, and so I am grateful for each and every one that brought me to this place of trust in the Lord.  So when I cried out to Him for release and He didn’t fix it, He was good and doing good because it changed me for the better.  Who knows what good it did in other’s lives?  Often we have to wait for things but we want them NOW!  God, who knows all, knows when and if we should have those things and asks us to wait on Him.

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Ps. 27:14

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. Ps. 62:5

I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints. Ps. 52:8,9

And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. Is. 30:18

       Wait?  I don’t want to wait.  Maybe better ‘puppy dog eyes’, better arguments, or promises or bribes will work.  “If all that fails, if God does not give in to my desires right now, then I will have to take matters into my own hands.”  We surely are a society of immediate gratification!  “Now, I want it now.”  But God says “Wait” or worse yet, “No.”  "He must hate me, He must not care, He’s left me…"  Thoughts pound through our head when life doesn’t go as planned or as wanted.  But what it all comes down to is, do we trust God to be good and do good in our lives?  Can we surrender and trust He is wise and knows best… and rest in that?  He is our peace (Ep. 2:14). 

Remember, God is our Father and His love for us is immeasurable.

Behold what manner of love the Father has given us,

that we should be called children of God.

1Jh. 3:1

Almost Creamed… Twice

       Friday was the day my daughter passed her G2 driving test which means she can now drive alone--- and I can stop driving her most days!!! J J J    Anyway, her driving test went fairly well despite the fact she had the hardest tester, who also tested longer than most of the other testers, and they almost got in a car accident.  Amy was to execute a left hand turn after stopping at a red light.  She had an advanced green arrow and so proceeded into her turn when a person ran the red and almost hit them on the passenger side.  She hit the brakes in time, but the tester didn’t say anything about it then.  It was only when they got back to the test facility that the tester told Amy she passed and thanked her for her quick reflexes that kept them from being creamed.

       Today we practiced on the expressway because that will be her main route to work.  Back and forth, on and off the ramps, merging into and dealing with merging vehicles was the priority.  At one point we went off into the mall and she began to make a left with our right of way.  The other two roads have stop signs, but the guy facing us probably didn’t notice that, stopped, but then drove through.  Amy again stopped just in time.  Both times she was in the right to proceed.  Both times the results of her stopping saved a lot of grief.  If her reflexes hadn’t been so good, there could have been injuries and damages.

       I try to teach my kids in life and especially driving that just because it’s your right doesn’t mean others follow the law or don’t make mistakes, so take care and allow for that eventuality.  I’ve made dangerous mistakes myself.  It happens to us all so we must be prepared to react appropriately.  We can force our ‘rights’ and end up injured, over react and make the situation worse, or calmly respond suitably for the situation.

If your child yells and you yell back, will that escalate the situation or calm it down?

A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness. Pr. 15:1,2

If someone says something hurtful to you, will being hurtful back make it better or worse?

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. Jm. 3:17

       One of my kids (not telling which J) used to get me going fairly quickly and things would escalate.  Eventually I realized they felt better when I was out of control- like they’d won something, so I resolved to react calmly no matter what.  They got worse before they got better, but eventually some healing took place and reactions all around are much improved.  The Bible speaks of better ways to respond:

So then let us pursue the things of peace, and the things for building up one another. Rm. 14:9

Let your moderation (Strong’s- appropriateness) be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Php. 4:5

to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. Tt. 3:2 ESV

If it is possible, as far as is in you, being in peace with all men. Rm. 12:18

Follow peace with all, and holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord; Hb. 12:14

But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who despitefully use you. Lk. 6:27,28

Blessed are the meek! For they shall inherit the earth… Blessed are the peacemakers! For they shall be called the sons of God. Mt. 5:5,9

Gee Lord, does this include inconsiderate drivers too?

Quiet of the Dunes

       Lately I really long to camp at the Pinery again.  My favourite area is the Dunes because I enjoy the looks of the dunes, the area is close to the lake and there is one prominent dune I love to climb at night to bask alone in God’s presence.  This post was written about my first experience on our dune.  It was a special time for me with My Savior.  It is also a reminder for me to not get lost in the busyness of summer. 

  

*   *   *   *   *

        It was late and finally, the kids were tucked away in their sleeping bags in the tent along with Albert who was reading on our side.  It seemed the rest of the campground was asleep or very quietly sitting around their campfires because the stillness of the night called to me.  After letting Albert know I was going for a walk, I set off on a new adventure into unknown territory.  This was a park we’d never been in before, and I was just discovering all it had to offer.  Drawing near to some sand dunes, I heart the Lord whispering, “Come be with Me.”

       Though my footing wasn’t sure, I managed to climb to the top of the dunes and there discovered an isolated area of natural beauty as mounds of sand opened up into the dark but starry sky.  In that quiet solitude, the Lord met with me, worship flowed out of me naturally, and the presence of the Lord was strong.  It felt like the Lord and I were the only two people in the universe that night.  What a precious time it was, and I returned to that place as often as I was able that week.

       With all the busyness of life, we sometimes forget to find that quiet place in our lives to meet with God and focus on Him alone.  Of course He is with us always (Mt. 28:20) and we ought to be communicating throughout our day, but there is a special connection made when we enter into a secret, quiet place with Him alone to be with one another.  Jesus Himself went out to a solitary place to meet with God (Mr. 1:35), and also taught His disciples to do the same (Mr. 6:31).  Sometimes, we just need to be still so we can ‘see’ God (Ps. 46:10).

       “Come close to God, and he will come close to you” (Jm. 4:8 ISV).  The Lord will meet with us if we just take the time to be alone with Him.  If we read the entire Bible, we see how God attempted over and over to make a home where He could be with man, because He wants to be with us- “…that I may dwell among them…” (Ex. 29:46).  He is the Father who meets with us in the secret place (Mt. 6:6), and there His peace will envelope us (Is. 26:3) because our minds are focused on Him and not ourselves, our troubles or our desires.

For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength..." Is. 30:15 NKJV

Rest,

Salvation,

Quietness,

Confidence,

Strength.

       These are great words, but in their purest form are found only in one place- in the Lord God.  We must find the time and place to meet with Him every day when we can focus on Him alone, setting aside all other concerns to be with Him.  My living room has become my ‘quiet place on the dunes’ where I meet with God, find rest in Him, and like the children of Israel on their journey, so is He with me on mine.

…My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

Ex. 33:14