Life Matters - June 22, 2022
A few weeks ago, our oldest son, Caleb, Mary and their three lively enthused-about-life children spent a week at our house as Caleb helped the guys on a roof project during the days. Caelan is four, Kylee is three and Jacey, the youngest, is a year and a half old. Jacey made a valiant effort, typical of her, I hear, to keep up with adventurous Caelan and trusting Kylee on their exciting ventures and escapades around the place, whether it was house, barn, chicken coop, dog shed, shop, or the great outdoors. Her bright blue eyes, her ready smile, and sturdy legs kept assuring Grandpa that she was indeed okay, life was just so exciting in the world of her older siblings that it was hard to keep up, yes, but it was all worth the effort once she arrived.
She does have a mind and determination of her own, as I observed from my easy chair one fresh, lilac-aroma-filled, spring morning after breakfast. As I sipped my coffee, little Jacey toddled into the living room on such a mission that her little feet appeared to barely keep up. For an exhilarating moment I thought she was coming for Grandpa, but the exhilaration was fleeting. The quiet, peaceful moment, however, continued as Jacey went to the piano and carefully pulled one end of the bench out from underneath the piano, obviously for the purpose of climbing onto it. By standing on an end rung she was just tall enough to clasp both sides of the seat with her cute little hands and hoist herself up to a sprawled-on-her-belly position on the piano bench. I was impressed. I wanted to cheer out loud but, not wanting to ruin the moment, I didn’t. But then, with one end of the bench still under the piano, her head bumped against the bottom of the keyboard housing when she tried, once, twice, and again, to sit up. I was concerned. I thought about getting up and helping her, concerned she might fall off. But I didn’t. And no, it wasn’t my coffee, I do have a side-table! Somehow, I knew, at least I think I knew, that little Jacey wouldn’t appreciate help, I would take away the joy of accomplishment she anticipated. After the third bump of her head, she clasped the side of the bench again and eased herself over the edge and down until her little feet touched the floor. She went to the side, but the rung was too far underneath. She went to the other end, but it was under the piano. So, she went to the first end again and followed the first attempt. I had a strong urge to get up and help so I held real still until the urge went away! Her head bumped the bottom of the keyboard housing once, twice… at the third try and with valiant effort her golden head come up past the piano and, without falling off the bench, she eased herself into a sitting position at the keyboard. She was gentle with the keys and what her song lacked in harmonious melody, it certainly had in sincere concentration. The “song” was too soon over and I was left with my thought… My thoughts began with the chorus words of a song that our eldest, Linda, and her husband, Joseph, sang for me some years ago during a difficult time;
“Don’t give up, on the brink, of a miracle,
Don’t give in, God is still, on the throne,
Don’t give up, on the brink, of a miracle,
Don’t give up, remember you’re not alone.”
How often have we given up just short of the goal? How often has God wanted to urge us on, just “once more” and we failed to continue because of “bumping heads” against a seemingly impossible situation.
This is more than child’s play. This is serious. We are in a life-or-death struggle for the souls of our children. For our very life. For the soul of the church. For the soul of a nation. For the souls of children being exposed to evil, even in schools, only comparable to Sodom and Gomorrah, their consciences being systematically, demonically defiled when barely out of the cradle. But all of the evils this administration, with the help of demons, is attempting to celebrate are as nothing when met head-to-head with the love of Christ and the truth of His Word. So “don’t give in, God is still on the throne.” The war has been won in heaven. The devil, because of Jesus, has been cast down. The battle goes on here, but the victory is sure. Jesus will set everything right one day. In the meantime, He wants to—through finite people such as you and me—save as many as possible. Who can tell? We could be on the brink of a miracle! God will not leave us alone. May we not leave Him.
Life Matters!