Footsteps

On a recent family reunion in San Diego, I had the extreme joy of watching our four children and their families enjoy the lovely beach of southern California. This is a favorite vacation spot for us--one we visited nearly forty years as a family. Now there were twenty of us!

The photo above shows several young cousins following an uncle who taught them the basics of surfing and boogie boarding. That day, he was the favorite uncle.

I love the photo because they were all lined up like a family of ducklings.

During a previous summer, at another California beach, I walked along with my son and his young daughters. The older one traipsed along merrily behind her dad as together they searched for seashells and sand crabs. My heart swelled as I watched my "baby" interact with one of his "babies." I remembered doing the same thing on nearly the same beach with him many years ago.

I saw their footprints in the sand, his very large and hers small, but following the path he set. Isn't it scary that our children follow in our steps? How do we make sure those footsteps are going in the right direction?

The obvious answer is for us to follow Jesus, asking ourselves what he would do in certain situations.

• How would he show love and patience to children, especially unruly or needy ones?
• How would he instruct them to make good choices?
• How would he lead them to trust God?

That's quite an assignment. It helps to remember we can trust God's guidance because he knows and understands--after all, he deals with us as his unruly children many times.

Our children will walk in our footsteps so we must follow his.

What a heavenly procession!

 

People over Things

People Are More Important Than Things

Crash! As soon as the soapy antique china platter I was drying slipped from my young hands, I knew there was not going to be a good ending. Sure enough, it shattered into tiny pieces with shards flying all over my elderly Great-Aunt Lona’s kitchen.

My heart sank and my eyes filled with tears—tears I tried desperately to stifle. My mother, who was hand washing the dishes, gasped and stared at me with a wide-eyed look of silent shock.


I was ten years old, an awkward young girl in the clumsy, pre-pubescent state of development. My parents and I had driven from our home in Ohio to Virginia to pick up my grandfather and take him to Florida so he could visit his siblings, whom he hadn’t seen in ages. It was a memorable trip for him but also for me because I got to see Florida and to meet aunt Lona and Uncle Den for the first and only time. They were Granddad’s brother and sister, neither who ever married. I knew them from family stories shared around the dinner table.
    
It was interesting to watch the three old siblings interact. They were quite lively and their eyes twinkled as they shared antics of their growing up years. I didn’t know my reserved southern gentleman grandfather could laugh so much.

And then I dropped the dish. It was antique, like most everything in Lona’s house, and possibly very valuable. It probably belonged to her dead mother or grandmother, I thought, making myself even more miserable.

“Oh, Honey,” said Aunt Lona, noticing my distress. “Don’t you fret. That old thing? I’ve been trying to get rid of it for years!” I couldn’t believe my ears. My mother, who hadn’t said a word, let out her breath and I choked and sniffled, still trying not to cry. My aunt’s response amazed me. Her kindness warmed me.

I never saw Aunt Lona again but I’ve always remembered her. Her legacy lives on in our family through her recipe for delicious Pound Cake. This southern classic is truly wonderful. It contains rich, artery-clogging creamy butter, lots of fresh eggs, and enough sugar to gag a hummingbird. 

     

However, as delicious as her pound cake recipe is, I remember Aunt Lona for recognizing a ten-year old girl’s feelings are far more important than any possession, no matter how valuable.

When must I practice her philosophy?

• when an elderly person shares details of a story I’ve heard a zillion times
• when I break or lose something of sentimental value
•  when a teen-aged child wants to talk far into the night altering my plan for a good night’s sleep
• when a little one comes charging with muddy feet across my just-scrubbed kitchen floor to show me a butterfly on his finger
• when a spouse deserves my attention more than a phone call or a hobby or a television show
• when a family member backs the car out of the garage and hits the second family car parked in the driveway (it’s been done)
• when a child needs me to drop whatever I’m doing and give him or her my undivided devotion.

Thank you, Aunt Lona, for teaching me people really are more important than things.

Southern Pound Cake

(Alona Faris)

5eggs                           ¼ t. salt

1 2/3 C. sugar              2 C. flour

½ lb. butter                  1 t. vanilla

            Set eggs and butter on counter to have at room temperature. Cream butter and sugar; add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each egg. Add flour gradually. Add salt and vanilla. Bake 1 hour at 350° in buttered non-stick angel food pan. (If using Bundt pan, bake approximately 45 minutes.)

How's Your Equilibrium?

 I'm into vocabulary. Last week I learned a term, new to me. It is "punctuated equilibrium" and came from a geologist leading a Road's Scholar tour of the Snake River Plain in southern Idaho.

My husband and I enjoyed a great week of learning about rocks, lava flows, rocks, volcanoes, earthquakes, rocks, and more rocks. Only a geology professor can get excited about deciphering historical happenings from the colors and formations of rocks.

Shawn Willsey, geology teacher at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, used the term to explain geological events that cause drastic changes in the earth. Erosion usually occurs slowly--through sand, wind, and water. Things like earthquakes and volcanoes punctuate the equilibrium of the landscape because they cause changes quickly.

This is a mile-long lava tunnel I walked through....err, crawled through on my hands & knees!

Lava rocks, as the result of a volcanic eruption & lava flow many years ago.

I hesitate to write about this because the term is used by evolutionists, and those who know me, know I am a staunch believer in God's creation--he created the earth and everything in it. He created mankind in his image. I believe we are the crown of his creation and do not evolve from animals. (There. I said it.)

However, that term jumped up and grabbed my attention. I must think in metaphors because immediately I saw punctuated equilibrium as aptly describing life.

Think about it: hasn't your equilibrium been punctuated? Life throws curve balls. It kicks us in the teeth. Blindsides us. You chose the cliché that fits your experience.

If we have a pulse, our equilibrium has been or will be punctuated.

So, what do we do about it?

• Learn about God (read his Book).
• Trust his promises.
• Lean on him.
• Dialog with him, daily.....sometimes hourly.
• Find support from someone whose faith is strong.
• Get professional help, if necessary.

You can survive if you allow God to uphold you and strengthen your character.

"...we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope; and hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us" (Romans 5:3).  

If your equilibrium is being punctuated, have faith that God will be by your side.

"...the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6)