Last week my 9 year old son decided that he was in need of some cologne. He is growing up way to fast as it is! He wants to be just like his daddy. First he wanted to use Dad's Old Spice body wash, then it was deoderant too and now we are onto cologne. Can I just say that I had to put my foot down! I am so glad that he no longer wants to smell like dirt as all little boys do no matter how many times you bathe them, but I was certainly not ready for him to smell like a manly man!
The day after my sons request, we drove out to grandpa's farm. Elijah often goes out there and stays the night. He loves to help grandpa with all the farm chores and it is his hands down, absolute, favourite thing. He gets completely spoiled for 48 hours...grandpa loves to lavish his great-grandson with time, affection and Dr. Pepper. Elijah also gets to drive grandpa's fancy new tractor. This my friends, is heaven for my 9 year old son, absolute heaven. So it was honestly no surprise to me that when I picked Elijah up he smelled a little different then usual. In fact, tucked away in his back pack were two bottles of mens cologne! I had put my foot down, I had even told grandpa no the day before....but that sweet man can't resist the hard work, charm and big pleading eyes of his grandson. He loves him and loves to lavish him with gifts.
I love that my grandpa loves my son. It is not just evident in the way he spoils him but even more so in the things he takes the time to teach him. David and I do our best to teach our kids how to live godly lives. But there is somethings absolutely precious and effective about an older, wiser, godly man investing in my son's life and character.
As I look at their relationship is is evident to me that my grandpa loves Elijah with a God kind of love. He is patient, forgiving, bestows gifts but also gently and firmly corrects and teaches my son the value of a good work ethic, responsibility, generosity and many other character building qualities.
God is like that. He loves us, HE loves us more than any kind of human love we have ever known. He loves to give His children gifts and blessings. He loves to pour out His love on us in that way. But His love is perfect. He loves us too much to let us live in our fallen state. He loves us too much to let us carry on living in sin, with out growth, change or quality of character. We often think
that God is punishing us when He choses to with-hold something we think we desperately need. Sometimes our first response is to think He has grown impatient with us or angry with us when He disciplines us for our sin. But it is actually quite the contrary. Often God withholds things, disciplines us or allows things in our lives because He loves us too much to to let us carry on in that state. It is just another way that He pours out His love on us. Our character, our lives, our light, our joy and our love is all far more important to Him than our security on earth, our immediate gratification, our comfortability and the fleeting happiness we so often pursue.
Whatever season you are in, this is truth... God has not forgotten, forsaken or abandoned you. You may have gone so far off the path that you don't even know how to get back. God has not gone anywhere, He will always purse you, always love you, readily forgive you and patiently wait for you to come back to Him. But why wait any longer when all your longings for love, forgiveness and complete healing can be met by the One true mighty to save God?
You may just be keeping one area back from the Lord, but why? When His light and love shines in all areas of your life, only then can you experience true satisfaction, joy and abundance of life. Step into the light!
You may be going through a time if chastening right now and it hurts, it's hard work, its painful....Persevere sweet friend, Jesus has victory for you. Even in the pain, He is lavishing His love on you. You and I are being refined and every day that we trust Him more, our faces shine brighter, our burdens are lighter and His glory shines.
Praise the Lord for those of you who are living in a season of fruitfulness, blessing and fellowship with Him. Be thankful and be generous in your love and encouragement towards others! God has blessed you in this season so that you can bring Him glory! SO what can you do today that will shine the love of Jesus in someone else's life?
Whatever season you are in, I pray that today you smell like Royal Spice, just like my son. In all you do, allow God's fragance to wash away any hint of bitterness, unforgiveness, envy, pride.... you get the picture! May your fragrance be that of God's abounding love, forgiveness and grace. May everyone who comes into contact you today be blessed by you and know that you are a Child of the King!
No comments:
Post a Comment