birthday

A Thoughtful Gift

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My favorite 2 year old, Anderson, had his birthday party Saturday, and I was at the store trying to find just the right gift.  That may not sound like a big deal, but the toy/kid section is not where I spend a lot of time, and it can be intimidating.  Boy toys, riding toys, books, clothes….so much stuff!  And I was also trying to avoid buying anything that his family might be buying.  As I looked around, I first eliminated the “over my budget” category.  I also had the friendly box info to go buy, with recommended ages, battery info, and other details thankfully highlighted on the front of the package that helped me eliminate some more.

While making my choice, I tried to picture his face, and the look on it if he received some of them.  I wanted him to be delighted with his gift..and for it to become a favorite.  I also needed it to be safe and sturdy, so he wouldn’t get hurt and it would endure “boy treatment”!  It couldn’t be for a 1 year old, because he would be bored.  It couldn’t be for a 3-5 year old, because he wouldn’t know how to use it and it would frustrate him.  It didn’t need too many parts, because they would get lost, and it didn’t need to be too noisy because I love his parents!

Later that night, God reminded me that He answers our prayers and blesses us in much the same way.  As He listens to our prayers, He filters those requests.  He eliminates those that would harm us, frustrate us, and really won’t provide the joy that He wants us to have. He refuses those that are not in His will.  And He allows those that He knows will be a delight to us, and give us joy. Of course there are many other reasons for His answers and blessings, but I believe the process is the same.

If you are waiting on an answer, or have gotten a “no”, think about these verses – Luke 11:11-13 – and rejoice that our God loves us so much!  To Him be all the glory!

They Are Precious In His Sight

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10174985_10154140497620454_5344776850501140117_n[1] “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed, and in Your book they were all written, 1477939_876743832387421_1127893204140839405_n[1]the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.”  Psalm 139:16

Today is a very special day for me.  And here’s the story of why.

In July, 2012, little Bennett Coleman (picture on the left) was born to my cousin and his wife.  Bennett, whose names means “little blessed one” was welcomed into his family with great joy, joining his older sister and brother.  On April 28, 2013, Anderson Eaton (picture on right) was born to his family with great joy also, joing his older brother and sister.  Bennett is the 10th grandson of my aunt and uncle, while Anderson is my “adopted” grandson.  Both were born into loving, Christian families who are seeking to raise their children in the ways of the Lord.

And in God’s timing, and his alone, Bennett left us a year ago today – on Anderson’s 1st birthday – April 28, 2014.  Bennett was diagnosed with cancer in December, 2013, and after a great fight went to live with Jesus.  In the words of his family, he is celebrating his first HEAVEN birthday today, while Anderson is celebrating his 2nd earthly birthday.

AND YET!  This story is not about sorrow and brokenness and death.  It IS a story about God’s sovereignty, and His plan.  Bennett’s parents have suffered through a year of grief and sorrow and pain – but also, as his mother Megan wrote, a year of watching God work through a very short life.  While Anderson continues his journey here, his parents and I have great hopes for how he will grow up to be a Godly young man and impact this world through his life.  While Bennett continues his eternal journey, his parents and I are seeing hundreds of thousands of lives touched and brought to Jesus because of his legacy here.

How could two little boys been born, and impacted their worlds with joy, and yet one of them be taken back to his home with Jesus?  The verse above is part of the answer.  God, and God alone, knows the span of our lives and what He is going to do with each one of us, whether here or in Heaven.  He is the author and creator of life and this world, and He alone has all the answers.  All we can know is that, like Paul said, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8).  To Him be the glory forever and ever.