Category: family

Many were touched deeply by Mel Gibson’s depiction of the relationship between mother and Son in THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST. Who loves like a mother? Who experiences the pain of another like a mother hurts for her child? As Mary endured at the cross and watched her suffering Son, I wonder if the words uttered by Simeon thirty-three years earlier rang in her ears. “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

Mothers love, mothers hurt, mothers endure, and mothers believe in their sons. Mary told Jesus, “They have no more wine.” Despite His protests, this mother seemed to know what her Son could do. “Do whatever He tells you,” she told the servants and Jesus’ first miracle was performed. How many good things have been done simply because a mother asked?

It was no small thing that Jesus provided a caretaker for His mother before He drew His last breath. Some wonder what influence such a woman had on one of the great authors of the New Testament. I wonder what blessings John received for caring for the mother God chose for His Son.

My mom turned seventy years old today. She has loved me, hurt for me, endured with me, and believed in me. She still rides a bicycle. She still loves her husband and tries to keep him in line. She still loves her children… and how she loves her grandchildren. I pray I never take her for granted… and I pray she knows she is loved.

Happy Mother’s Day.

“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Proverbs 31:28-29

And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them. And he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:2-4

I can picture Jesus taking little John, almost a month old, setting him before grown ups and saying: “Be like him. Be innocent. Be helpless. Be trusting. Be humble.”

The world scoffs at such advice and gives its own: “Be experienced. Be independent. Be smart. Be skeptical. Be proud.”

But who gets the blessing from above? “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them unto babes. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.” Matthew 11:25-26

So are you a little child or are you all grown up?

“Let me be a little child, Lord. As Jesus walked in innocence, so may I. As Jesus depended on You, so may I. As Jesus was humble, so may I be. As Jesus rejected the traps of the ‘wise and learned’, so may I. I trust in You – my perfect Father. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth (and in me) as it is in Heaven. Amen.”

Many students and teachers from our school would appreciate your prayer as spring mission trips go out this week. Our family is to go to the Czech Republic, so I won’t write for a couple of weeks. Have a great Easter! Dana

Hey John, What goes through your little mind? We big people can only imagine. When your face wrinkles up, are you worried? When you smile, are you having a happy thought? When you sleep, do you dream? John, I want you to know you are loved. Your mother loves you in ways you’ll never understand, and you have a brother and sister that love you, too. The family you’re living with loves you, though we know you’ll only be with us a little while. And though I’m not your daddy, I love you, too. But I want to tell you who loves you most. Our Father in Heaven loves you perfectly. He has a special place in His heart for little fellas like you. He’s the one who made you and He has a great plan for your life. He put you all together while you were still inside your mommy, and I think He did a beautiful job. I’ll tell you, John, life on this earth is going to get a little more difficult than it is right now. I wish I could say things will always be pleasant, but you’ve entered a world that’s a little messed up. The truth is – our Father has an enemy who hates everything good. He roams around looking to make trouble and he’s made trouble for us all. But I don’t want you to worry because our Father has a Son who beat this bad guy and He promises to help us while we’re here. This Good Friend wants us to know this world is not our true home. You’re going to like it here in many ways. You’ll do a lot of fun things and you’ll see some beautiful places, but always remember… there’s something much better to come. Good night, John. Sweet dreams…

“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:2-6

“Like newborn babies, crave spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” I Peter 2:2

Our family has a guest in the house. John’s mom loves him with a mother’s heart, but she cannot care for him until she completes a prison sentence. Sunday, with many tears, she asked us to care for her child until she is free. Our guest is a newborn baby.

We never need to tell John to crave milk. He craves well! I’ve forgotten the grunts, squirms, and cries of a hungry baby. “I need milk! I don’t know much else, but I’m hungry! I don’t care what else you are doing, feed me!” Of course, John makes these requests in the most polite way, but his natural longing reminds me of what I need.

If you have tasted that the Lord is good, crave Him! In Him we are saved, and with Him we grow. We can never get enough! If Susan tried to put John in front of the television the next time he was hungry, he would not be satisfied. Nothing will replace the nourishment he needs. So it is with us. No pleasure, no entertainment, no activity, no food, no friend… no ‘anything’ will replace the nourishment we need.

After John drinks heartily, he rests. What a beautiful sight… and sound! As we drink of our life-giving Lord, we, too, learn to rest… in Him. “Thank you, Lord, for paying the price. Thank you, Lord, for giving Your righteousness to us. Thank you, Lord, for showing us the Father. Thank you, Lord, for speaking to our hearts. Thank you, Lord, for giving us peace. Thank you, Lord, for being our Good Shepherd. Help us, Lord, to grow in You with the hope of bearing much fruit in Your Kingdom. Amen.”

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6

South African author, Alan Paton, wrote a powerful novel that was first published in 1948. CRY,THE BELOVED COUNTRY is the story of a father’s search for his only son, who had left the rural African hills to pursue life in the dangerous city of Johannesburg. The boy’s name was Absalom, reminding us of another son who had departed from his father long ago. How David longed for things to be right with this handsome young man, but it would not be. A father’s broken heart cried out when news came of a violent death. “Absalom, O Absalom. Would it were I who died in your place!”

Last week I stood next to another grieving father whose son lay in a rose covered casket. This father was my uncle and his son was my cousin, Paul, who took his own life. A broken world produces such tragedy and we ask “why?”

There is another Father who weeps. He wept when a son and daughter first brought sin into the world and He weeps today. It is not God’s will that men destroy one another. It was not God’s will that my cousin destroy himself. In a dark world, Paul must have felt there was nowhere to go. The voices around him shut out the Voice of the One who constantly says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” This One’s love went further than the cry of King David… He did die in our place.

I have few words to comfort my hurting family, but I do sense the broken heart of a Father… and I cry.

“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you had only known on this day what would bring you peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes.’” Luke 19:41-42

“See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.” Malachi 4:5-6