Saltwater, Sand, and Smiles - a Biblical Lesson in Child-like Abandon

¹ After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: ² Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. ³ Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately^a]">[a] got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. ⁴ But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. ⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” ⁶ And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.

⁷ Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. ⁸ But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. ⁹ Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. - John 21:1-9

Oh how I love this verse! This is how I imagine this event unfolds:

The sun is low in the sky, barely dawning, and they hear a voice from shore asking about their catch. "Nope, nothing man!". The stranger, who has now stopped walking and is shielding his eyes from the rising sun gestures, "try that side, the right, and you'll get some". They did and immediately, they were overrun with too many fish to haul in! Everyone on the boat looked at the stranger on shore in astonishment, mouths agape! One exclaimed, "It's Jesus!". Peter looked at his friend, eyes wide; looked back toward the figure on shore, and dashed for his tunic.

Hastily, he tied it around his waist and dove overboard, splashing toward shore as quickly as he could.

Now think about it, if he dove overboard in his excitement, do you think he will stop when he reaches shore? No way! I imagine that the moment his feet hit sand, arms flailing, yelling Jesus' name, he gains shore and, kicking up clumps of mud, he reaches Jesus, throws his arms around Him, and holds tight! I also imagine that Jesus is thrilled with this display and laughs, head thrown back toward heaven, while hugging back equally as hard.

It brings tears to my eyes. Oh that we can have that abandon! That we would dash to Him and throw our spiritual arms around Him.

Likewise, it makes me think of my children and how we, their parent's, interact with them. For much of their early years, we are their only exposure to the person of Jesus, the relationship of God to His children.

And it makes me think of how many times my children, so excited to see me, have thrown themselves at me, arms open and expectant.

And finally, it makes me think of their reception. Do I receive them with equally excited, anticipatory, open arms? Do I give a hurried pat and send them on their ways? Do I move them away from me quickly because I have something else on my mind?

What about when their hands are messy and they are less-than-perfect to be held? Again, I think of how Jesus hugged sticky-saltwater, sandy, sloppy, HUMAN Peter back just as fiercely as the grown man who gave himself over to childlike abandon.

My hope is that, for every parent reading, when their child girds themselves up, dives overboard, and splashes to them, messy or neat, during mommy and daddy's busy time or play, that the Parent would swing their child high, laugh in equal abandon, and let them fall into the Love and Acceptance of a Parent's embrace.

For A Little Fun - Pachabel

Rainy Days and Rainbows

Sometimes we forget that children teach us as many lessons as we teach them.

How often, how many of us have been walking through the life, admiring the flowers and sunshine, taking advantage of the warmth and wonder... When rainclouds roll in unexpectedly and break open, pouring their abundance onto the earth?

Running for cover, we look up in upset and disappointment. No more walking in the warmth and wonder, no longer able to see the sunshine...

But we forget... the flowers need the rain to grow, and the Sunshine is still there, patiently waiting behind the clouds. The sun hasn't changed location, something is simply obstructing our view of it.

And then, we are always caught by surprise when the clouds part and let the sun shine down onto the earth again - revealing a beautiful rainbow in more colors than our human eye can comprehend.

As I think on this, a day not long ago, the sweet child you see in the picture above came to hold my hand on a particularly hard day, give it a squeeze, and point up to the sky saying in delight, "mommy, look at the rainbow! Know what rainbows are? They're God's promise!"

Thank you Kairi. Let the rain come, it might cloud my vision of the Son, but I know He has promises that He intends to keep!

Moses Complex

Ok - so I know we have been gone for a long time, lots of changes has happened to our family, and continues to happen. I did want to drop in and tell you a little about the wonderful teaching we received in church last Sunday.

Our pastor, Larry, told us all about the Moses Complex.

The Moses Complex can be seen by reading, well, the account of Moses. Early on, Moses showed his temper by killing an Egyptian. It wasn't right, it wasn't good, but he did. No matter what the guard was doing, Moses was at fault. He got mad, lost his temper and killed a man.

Next, Moses complained that he was not the right man to go and lead the people out of Egypt, he grumbled, complained, and made excuses. God told him that He would provide for him. Moses continued to complain and God got upset at him - basically saying 'why can't you just trust me, Moses? Fine, this is My plan, let me spell it out for you.... now go do it!"

And we all know about Moses' temper tantrum and loss of control when he came down from Mt. Sinai and threw the tablets that GOD carved out and wrote on, breaking them. As a disciplining, God told him to come back up a second time to have them written on, but this time Moses had to carve the tablets.

And finally, even after being punished, we see Moses' last act of complaining and temper -

While Moses was in the desert with the multitude during the exodus, again, we find Moses complaining and pointing fingers... whine whine whine... Throwing himself on the floor of his tent, he has a temper tantrum. "The people are... blah blah blah... the people, the people..." God steps in and says "Moses, what are you doing?" Moses starts up again, only to have the Lord interrupt his fit. He tells him to get up, cut it out, and gives him instructions...

His instructions are to go out to "the rock".. not a rock, but the rock... and speak to it. Now, if we look in 1 Cor. 10, we will see exactly why it is called the rock.. because there was ONE rock in particular that was following them throughout the wilderness and so Moses and Aaron would know exactly what rock God was talking about. And, what do we know of The Rock? He is Jesus. So, Jesus was following them throughout the wilderness, the people were revolting, their leader was complaining, and God asked Moses to go out, speak to Jesus so that He would give them water.

The water can mean many things: God's care and concern, God's provision, God's Word, God's salvation.. but, instead of speaking to the Rock for Water, Moses throws another fit, yells at the people and hits The Rock twice!

God still provides, but as a result of Moses' continued rebellion, even refusal, to temper his temper (lol) God basically says that Moses has crossed the line, so he won't be bringing the children into the Promised Land.

Moses had a Complex - a history of complaining (Jud 1:16), whispering (Romans 1:29)... and a temper.

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This story told me so much. During this time of our lives, our family definitely feels as if we are in an exodus of sorts. And, I have found myself complaining instead of rejoicing. And, when God tells me to speak to the Rock to give me water, heaven forbid, but I have found myself from time to time striking out at Him instead of speaking to Him.

Both Calvin and I have found ourselves doing this. Givig ultimatums to God, getting angry, frusterated, complaining... the Moses Complex all over again.

I don't want to learn my lesson the hard way and be kept from His promises. So, I better reign in my complaints. Likewise, as a parent I don't want to provide that type of example to my children of how to act toward our Provider during adversity.

So instead, we will wait, and trust, and watch the pillar of fire (direction), the cloud of smoke (protection), drink of His Water from the Rock (provision), and accept the manna that He does provide, as He sees fit for us to be faithful with (sustainance).

Hopefully He will see us faithful with this little, during our travels in the desert, so that we might walk into His promise as a family having shown ourselves approved of His Word and trusting Him. I don't want the Moses Complex during our Exodus.

Three Rules of Love

Something a mentor told Calvin the other day...

The three rules that children have for those they love:

• Spend time with me
• Don't hurt me
• Don't hurt yourself

So. Simple.

And now, some on-topic silliness:

Things You Don't Say To Your Wife - The most popular videos are here

Now, For a Bit of Humor...

I love Youtube... in fact, it has given me two wonderful examples to teach my children by. :o)

Why NOT to play copy cub with your older sister if she asks you to stop... AND, why you should probably be nice to your little sister even if she IS being annoying...



And - one very good reason to limit my children's computer access...

What a Mother Must Sacrifice

While reading through my every-other-daily reads (because my list is getting too long) Fearless wrote a beautiful BEAUTIFUL post on a long 36-hour labor, a timely blog post, and, together, their transforming qualities.

First, it caused her to second-guess her calling. Second, it caused her to experience the wonderfully healing act of her family stepping up to refill her empty cup (which those of us in the m/w doula world can understand). Third, it caused this mama-bird to take a little closer look at her own birthing time.

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Holy Experience writes on what a Mother Must Sacrifice. Beautiful. My heart wept at reading her words.

“Mother ducks pick feathers from their chests to line their nests.”

Her post is beautifully articulated and has made me pause for contemplation. I, too, had assumed that nests were made from the discarded, the left over, the overlooked. I never knew, never once paused to think... I was wrong. Sorely, and grossly, I was wrong.

A mother duck, plucks feathers from her bosom. Soft and warm, fresh... not left overs.

Am I a good mother duck? I think of the times this past week when my children rallied around me, vying for attention, but I shoo them away in the name of responsibility and commitment. I looked around my home and thought "I just need to finish this task, this commitment, and then I will have time to do this chore..." Missing completely, by five wiggly, giggly, warm blooded, open-hearted steps, the proper placement of my priorities.

Am I lining my nest with feathers plucked from my chest? I would hope so. I would pray so. But I know that, sometimes, and lately in this too-busy season, they get sticks and leaves and discarded muddied feathers.

But, now, as I meditate on these words, I begin preening my nest; discarding those second-rate fillers that have found their way into our home. And, in their place, I begin to pluck, though they may sting, though they may bite, warm feathers from my breast.