A Good Day, A Good Reminder

Today I spent 8 hours with my 9-year-old cousin, Malik. We disassembled, sanded, primed, painted, de-rusted, oiled and almost reassembled a bike for his sister's birthday present. I learned that he has a great imagination, a short attention span, a strong desire to be helpful but a fear of failing in the attempt.

He hates the Gummy Bear song, and he often gets a stomach ache because he talks so much at meal time that he scarfs his food without chewing in order to avoid being left alone at the table. He's not a fan of carrot cake, and has some of the shiniest, straightest, prettiest hair you've ever seen. He gets a huge kick from using tools, and has no idea that a razor blade is actually dangerous. He also likes to be organized with other people's things, i.e. tools and toys etc. (His own things? Not so much.)

He's super excited about me being at his house because there is a guy around that is like him, looks like him, thinks a little more like him, and can do fun guys things. This morning before setting out to the deck to work on the bike, he tells his mother, "We going [out] to be men!" Lots of things in life don't go as you plan. Sometimes frustrations set in when you're kicking at the goads trying to have your way. Then, in the meantime, if you stop kicking long enough, you realize you've stopped exactly where you were meant to. If only for a little while.

Personal Revelation

Recently I have learned the following truths; some discouraging, some enlightening, some encouraging:

A man's (or woman's) ways are right (and justifiable) in his (or her) own eyes - it doesn't make it good or just, but it might be legal.

Not everyone in church on Sunday is there for God's glory, in fact, most are there for their own.

Not everyone who cries Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, any questions see previous comment.

The people you love can lie to your face and then disrespect you and call you an idiot for believing them, but no matter what, love believes all things and never fails to be given. That's why lies hurt.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man (or woman) because He is love, therefore He never fails to give of himself for our benefit and hope. People can't be implicitly trusted.

Even when the whole world hates you, and sometimes it will, God never leaves your side - no matter what the outcome happens to be.

All stones can spout flowers and fruit trees under the right conditions, even the ones around our hearts.

When ever your heart hurts really, really bad, two things are certain: 1) God feels it too; 2) God is still keeping more hurt away from you.

I knew all these words for the longest time, and knew what they meant. I could teach on them. But now I have understanding.

"Knowledge is a mighty thing to have in the hand, but I would trade it all if I could only understand." -- Author Unknown

Lots to think about today.