Tag Archive for: Parenting

Thunder, Lightning and Smiles

One night several years ago, an incredible storm rolled through the area just before I left work. Although it was too early for the sun to go down, the sky had already grown quite grey and was growing darker by the minute. Finally, as I was getting ready to park my work truck in a building for the night, the sky opened up with an incredible show as lightning flashed remarkably close and the roar of thunder was quite deafening. Although I generally don’t mind storms, on that particular evening, I was thinking that it was just a little too close for comfort. As the storm came in, it didn’t help when a large bang and crackling noise, along with other loud static, came over my CB radio. I can assure you that my radio got turned off pretty quickly after that noise came through the speakers!

Thinking about that evening’s storm, let me share a story that I heard a long time ago. It’s one that I think about nearly every time I experience a thunderstorm.

A young mother was out running errands one day and got caught in a thunderstorm as she was driving. As she continued driving through the heavy storm, she would often look back to check on her daughter, who was riding in the backseat, to see how she was taking the thunder and lightning. Each time that a lightning bolt would flash, the little girl’s face would get a huge smile on it. Finally, intrigued, the mother asked her daughter why she was smiling whenever the lightning flashed. Without missing a beat, the little girl looked at her mother and said: “Because God is taking my picture!”

Think about it! What an incredible picture, isn’t it? The same God who created the terrifying storm, also created it to be beautiful – to display His power and glory for us to see. It’s so easy for us to forget how powerful God is. Sometimes we treat Him haphazardly – like one of us. We don’t give Him the honor that He deserves. And, to be honest, when we forget about His power and the reality of who He is, it’s easy to lose some of the awe and reverence that we should have for Him. Sometimes, we need something electrifying to jolt us back to reality. We need to remember that God isn’t always safe, but He is always good.

No one is promised a life that’s free of storms. In fact, we’re promised the opposite. We will all know storms throughout our lives. We may face financial problems, illnesses, family issues – or a host of other things. Sometimes the storms that we face seem to be too powerful for us. There are times when we may feel like we’re not going to see the sunshine and peaceful skies on the other side. Yet, we can have confidence that whenever we go through a storm, we don’t have to go through it alone. The God who created the storm also wants to walk with us through the storm. Even though He is so powerful that He can create the greatest storms, God is also gentle. We can rest in His presence – just like that little girl. Even as the storm rages all around us, we can still find the peace to truly enjoy God’s presence. Think about the peace and comfort that can be ours – just by finding our rest, peace, happiness and joy in Him.

Whatever storm we may be facing, God always wants to walk through it with us. If we allow Him to have control of the storm, then there’s nothing to worry about. We just need to relax and enjoy the lightshow! Of course, we need to smile. God may be taking our picture, also!

Have a great day!

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – John 14:27 (NIV)

(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

 

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Do Your Best

It was another Friday evening and I was washing some dust off of my truck before going home from work. I wanted to make sure that the truck was clean for the following Monday morning – and, the start of another work week.

After another busy day, I was looking forward to heading home to spend the evening with my family. As I finished up, I thought back to a childhood lesson that my parents taught my sister and me.

Growing up, Dad and Mom insisted on us doing our best at whatever we were involved in. Whether it be academics, sports, extracurricular activities or anything else, my sister and I were expected to be diligent and give our very best efforts. Our parents didn’t expect us to be the quickest, but they wanted us to grow as we learned responsibility and the importance of doing a job that was well-done.

Along those lines, I thought back to two comments made by different customers in the last few days. One person had commented on how clean the truck was (I didn’t point out the dust on the back of the truck!). Another individual had asked if the vehicle was new. (It’s a couple of years old.).

It was nice to receive both compliments. Yet, as I was rinsing off the truck, it made also think about how often we do work that is subpar, or even mediocre.

When we don’t do our best, people often use that as a basis to judge us. They may also critique our relationship with God by how well we live out our lives as we serve others through our families, work and other activities.

The reality is that God doesn’t expect us to be experts – the best at whatever we do. Yet, He wants us to give our best as an offering to Him. How we live every facet of our lives is an opportunity to bring praise or insult to God.

Most people don’t think of dirty work vehicles as being part of a testimony to God’s greatness. Yet, we can show love and gratitude to God in even the most obscure and trivial matters.

Have a great day!😀

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” – Colossians 3:17 (NIV)

(This was first published at theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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Life and Boots

Work boots are one of my favorite forms of footwear. Ever since I was a young boy, I appreciated the hard work that they represented. Since then, steel toes have protected my feet many times. And if I’m being completely honest, since I’ve always been a bit vertically-challenged, I like the additional height that they offer.

These work boots have traveled a lot of miles – quite literally. In addition, they’ve supported a lot of weight – mine, and the heavy, bulky construction materials that I often have to shoulder. After wearing them for over two years, they’re finally worn to the point that they will need to be replaced soon.

My boots don’t look nice anymore. The leather is faded and cracked – with holes developing in the toes. They are tattered and worn – having survived many seasons of both weather and life. If you were to talk about them with my wife, she may also tell you that they don’t smell very nice, either!

These work boots resemble how some of us may feel. We may feel battered, worn and exhausted by life – like we’re falling apart. Fortunately, God never says that we’re too old to have value, or worn beyond usefulness.

This picture reminds us of the importance of hard work and commitment. It also is a reminder that young boys will become men one day, so parents, let’s raise them up well.

Have a great day! 🙂

(This was first published at theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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