Disconnected Offerings

My mom emailed me a little reply, as she often does, in response to my last blog post. I know the story well — the beginning of my mom’s reading of chapter books to her kids — but it’s such a dear, happy image (and I love so much that the tradition continues with her own kids reading the very same books to her grandkids) that I wanted to keep her comment recorded here:

Watership Down!  Oh, memories!  You might not remember but I think what started all of this was a baby gift Penny sent to newborn John -- a copy of The Hobbit, with the following inscription:  "This is a rather dangerous book, and should be previewed by John's older brothers" (who were five and four at that time).  So in the evening when it was time to nurse the baby, I read to them, and somehow nobody felt neglected because I had to spend time with the baby.  Oh Penny -- the wisest of all!  And the older brothers took their responsibility seriously.  When the trolls had captured the hobbits and had them hanging in bags in a tree while the trolls decided whether to boil, mince, or fry them, Tony stopped me.  "I think this is getting too scary for the baby!"  he insisted, trembling.  Checking ahead, I was able to assure him that Bilbo was about to rescue them in just a minute.  But those big brothers were really on guard!

And it was kind of wonderful to re-read some of these best ones to a second or even third generation of little ones who had never gone hobbiting or to the Downs, or to the Mines of Moria with their older siblings!

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I continue to have various frustrations in regards to this coronavirus pandemic of course, but not fear any more. But when things first began and stores were running out of things and there seemed to be a bit of hysteria, I did feel some initial fear. After praying for several days, I quickly jotted down these thoughts and feelings. I came across them again the other day and found they applied to more than just that space of time and decided to put them here as well:

There are things God has for me and each of my kids to do ahead. Plans he has for us. Any natural disasters or trials or calamities aren’t just independent things that might interfere with that truth. Wading through them, and choosing how, and learning from them will strengthen our faith and become an important part of the journey towards the things He has ahead for us. These things are preparatory and God will use them to strengthen and teach me and prepare me to do and understand even more ahead. That will be true with any future difficulty or disaster. He does not relinquish his control and the quicker we work to trust him and seek what he would have us do with where we are at (even if we feel guilty for not being as prepared as we should have been) the sooner he can mold this to good and use us and train us for his purposes. Don’t feel fear. Feel hope and trust and determination to rise to the challenge and see what he will do through and for you. And what it will lead you to. All is well. All is well. We are in his hands and not forsaken and the quicker we turn to him and trust that that is true (rather than let fear or guilt put a barrier to that belief) the sooner we free ourselves from Satan’s chains and rid ourselves of the lies and fears he tries to quickly wrap around us. There may be difficult things ahead. But Christ already sees them and will hold us by the hand and lead us through each one — showing us what to do and giving us help and hope. So we don’t need to fear. (Also! Be determined and excited! You WERE prepared for these very things! You might balk and feel discomfort or fear initially. But it doesn’t change the fact that you have work to do in and through these hard things! And the Lord will lead you by the hand reminding you of all of it!)

I think the idea that jumped out at me as I re-read these thoughts was that the troubles that come are not interruptions, rather they are part of the journey towards all we need to accomplish and become and all we need to learn about trust and hope and our Savior's power to mend. It reminds me of one of my favorite things Howard W. Hunter ever said: "Our detours and disappointments are the straight and narrow path to Him."

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Kids and chalk. They typically manage to coat the seat of their pants with it and then run right in to sit on our blue couches.

Hans. Some days we don't manage to get him settled for a nap. But then ... he seems to settle himself to one all right.

I took some pictures of kids in our van in May and June. I think I was planning to do a little "scenes from the van" photo of each of them for Instagram. But I never got Goldie. Or Hans. And Abe left on his mission again. And the ones I got of Daisy I posted in the farm post awhile back. And I forgot about them for awhile. Anyway, here are a few from the van. Perhaps I will re-visit this idea afresh later.

Kids playing around outside.

Hansie after a tumble into a table edge and several stitches. "I'll be brave if the doctor gives me a shot," he said through his sniffles as he was carried out the door with a towel pressed firmly to his bleeding head.

The End.