My three year-old grandson, Victor, is not what you would call a talker. He understands words, and can say things, it's just been easier for him to use ASL signs, and some that he made up himself, rather than to form the words and say them. I believe that this is the last obstacle he needs to overcome as a result of the set-backs from his first year of life. That has been discussed before, so I won't waste the time re-hashing things.
Every time he goes to one of his many doctors, therapists, and whatever-ologists, they validate his being a "normal, healthy boy," something I was pretty sure about, but it's nice to hear the experts confirm it. I admit, at first I wondered if he might have some developmental challenges, but as time went on, Victor has blossomed into this wonderfully loveable little three year-old boy.
I've talked about his being such a social critter, too, so I won't spend a lot of time on it, he's just so darned adorable. People who don't like kids love Victor. Maybe it's his blue eyes, or the wrinkle on the bridge of his nose when he smiles at you, or possibly that he has absolutely no fear of anyone, but he's almost irresistable. He is, actually, the exact opposite of my granddaughter, who is very chatty, but very withdrawn.
Victor loves his "Gmpa" (me) very much. He had not actually said it, but I know it from the way he reacts to seeing me, from the way he likes to cuddle with me, and a host of other behaviors. I would have to be pretty dense not to understand. Still, I take the opportunity to say, "I love you Victor," as often as I can. Imagine my reaction, when I hugged him on Monday, and told him, "I love you Victor," and he responded, "I love you Gmpa."
At first I didn't know if I'd actually heard it, but then I knew I had. I had to quickly excuse myself, and run out to my car before the tears started flowing. I didn't want to burden the babysitter with that sight. It was a few minutes, before I could collect myself enough to drive home, but I was a very happy grampy.
In my life, I have heard some great things, said by great people. With my own ears, I heard JFK's inaguration speech, MLK's I had a dream... speech, Reagan's "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" I've watched men stepping on the moon, and heard, "That's one small step..." I have heard many important and historical things in my life. All of that pales in comarison to four words spoken by a three year-old miracle, "I love you Gmpa."
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
What Would Jesus Do?
It's kind of a nice thought, what would Jesus do? Faced with a tought choice or decision, some people ask the question as a guide, as though any normal human being, particularly one in this day and age, is capable of either knowing what the Savior would choose, or actually doing anything Jesus did. In that regard, the question takes a bit of a turn towards humor, in my thinking. For example, I pulled into the parking lot for WalMart, and a woman was trying to get one of those huge-screened TV's into a very compact car. I took my time getting out of the car and locking it up, to see what would happen. As I turned to walk into the store, the woman says, "What would Jesus do?"
I laughed to myself, and thought, "He'd get a bigger car, or a smaller TV. You're probably going to f@#& this up badly." Hey, I'm allowed to entertain myself...
Stop and think about it, though. I know we are, as Christians, supposed to emulate the examples set by Christ during his time on Earth, but the WWJD folks are setting the bar a little high. Better the question "What is the right/proper/helpful thing to do?" Those are choices I can wrap my mind around. Knowing the mind of Jesus Christ is something no one can do. And yes, I know I'm being petty, it's just a phrase, and people never think about what they are saying, anyway... blah, blah, blah, ad nauseum.
All the more reasong to stand up; people need to think about what they are attempting to do, before they go blowing-off their mouthes, or looking like idiots when they "pray".
OK, that's something else that bugs me, and this is a "ramble," anyway, but the folks who stand with their arms streached upwards, staring into the heavens, supposedly praying get my goat. Show me where, in any Scripture, where it says that we may be so brazen as to attempt to look God in the eye? Show me where it says that prayer should be done in such a way as to be apparent to everyone in the vicinity. I know where it mentions "humbly," and where it references "private" prayers, I just can't seem to find those other teachings. Could they be "the teachings of men..."?
Going back to my original topic, WWJD, we are commanded to pray to know God's will for us. With that thought in mind, the question of what anyone else would do becomes irrelevent. It doesn't matter what Jesus did, or the apostles, or even your parents. God's will for you may be a whole lot different than what you, or anyone else may want for yourselves. Ultimately, God's will for us is to be able to return to him, but we will not walk the same pathes. Living is a series of choices, and we all face the same choices, it's just not at the same time in our lives. The path that each of us takes may have similarities to the path of others, but each is unique, driven by the choices we make, and how well we recover from the mistakes we will inevitably make.
Rats in a maze is an ample metaphor for life, only in a laboratory maze, a wrong choice is never lethal. I picture being born and raised to a point where we each have to make a choice, basically we are facing three doors. The first is the "Right" choice, and opens on a hallway of doors, with only a few that are closed to you. The second is the "Wrong" choice, and opens on a hallway with only a few doors open to you. The third door is easily overlooked, as it is a narrow opening leading to a straight passage where every door is opened to you. The third door is what God wants you to do and, positioned between Right and Wrong, can be missed entirely. Right and Wrong are labled, the other is not. It can only be seen by one who humbles himself/herself before God and asks for guidance, and still one may miss it if he/she isn't looking.
It is the path between Right and Wrong because it encompasses more than just being one or the other. Simply being right is not enough, and being wrong can be forgiven. It has to do with the content of our hearts, our intents, our reasoning. Wherever we go, Right or Wrong, we eventually face three doors again. Doing God's will for us enables us to look beyond the distractions of living, and focus on what is most important, getting back to His presence, and to hear Him say, "Well done, O good and faithful servant!"
I laughed to myself, and thought, "He'd get a bigger car, or a smaller TV. You're probably going to f@#& this up badly." Hey, I'm allowed to entertain myself...
Stop and think about it, though. I know we are, as Christians, supposed to emulate the examples set by Christ during his time on Earth, but the WWJD folks are setting the bar a little high. Better the question "What is the right/proper/helpful thing to do?" Those are choices I can wrap my mind around. Knowing the mind of Jesus Christ is something no one can do. And yes, I know I'm being petty, it's just a phrase, and people never think about what they are saying, anyway... blah, blah, blah, ad nauseum.
All the more reasong to stand up; people need to think about what they are attempting to do, before they go blowing-off their mouthes, or looking like idiots when they "pray".
OK, that's something else that bugs me, and this is a "ramble," anyway, but the folks who stand with their arms streached upwards, staring into the heavens, supposedly praying get my goat. Show me where, in any Scripture, where it says that we may be so brazen as to attempt to look God in the eye? Show me where it says that prayer should be done in such a way as to be apparent to everyone in the vicinity. I know where it mentions "humbly," and where it references "private" prayers, I just can't seem to find those other teachings. Could they be "the teachings of men..."?
Going back to my original topic, WWJD, we are commanded to pray to know God's will for us. With that thought in mind, the question of what anyone else would do becomes irrelevent. It doesn't matter what Jesus did, or the apostles, or even your parents. God's will for you may be a whole lot different than what you, or anyone else may want for yourselves. Ultimately, God's will for us is to be able to return to him, but we will not walk the same pathes. Living is a series of choices, and we all face the same choices, it's just not at the same time in our lives. The path that each of us takes may have similarities to the path of others, but each is unique, driven by the choices we make, and how well we recover from the mistakes we will inevitably make.
Rats in a maze is an ample metaphor for life, only in a laboratory maze, a wrong choice is never lethal. I picture being born and raised to a point where we each have to make a choice, basically we are facing three doors. The first is the "Right" choice, and opens on a hallway of doors, with only a few that are closed to you. The second is the "Wrong" choice, and opens on a hallway with only a few doors open to you. The third door is easily overlooked, as it is a narrow opening leading to a straight passage where every door is opened to you. The third door is what God wants you to do and, positioned between Right and Wrong, can be missed entirely. Right and Wrong are labled, the other is not. It can only be seen by one who humbles himself/herself before God and asks for guidance, and still one may miss it if he/she isn't looking.
It is the path between Right and Wrong because it encompasses more than just being one or the other. Simply being right is not enough, and being wrong can be forgiven. It has to do with the content of our hearts, our intents, our reasoning. Wherever we go, Right or Wrong, we eventually face three doors again. Doing God's will for us enables us to look beyond the distractions of living, and focus on what is most important, getting back to His presence, and to hear Him say, "Well done, O good and faithful servant!"
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