PLEASING JESUS

Thursday afternoon I had picked up my oldest son Joe along with his 3 children to give him a ride to his karate studio, and then to babysit the kids until my daughter-in-law got off from work and was able to pick them up on her way home. Joe's car broke down AGAIN this week, and they have heard that the repair on it is QUITE large. At this point in time, paying their living expenses alone is about all they can manage. They both work hard, but with 5 children their responsibilities are large. I help out where I can and in the meantime, I guess I will help out getting Joe to work. It does just seem as if this particular child of mine can't seem to catch a break and stay on top of his enormous pile of responsibilities. He is forever and always the optimist and just keeps moving along despite set back after set back. This latest one is causing me to struggle somewhat and wonder why it seems he is always the one dealing with life's calamities. But all of this isn't even what it was I wanted to post about today. It was about the conversation I had with his 9 year old daughter Lindsey on the way home. Lindsey is 9 years old going on 15, haha....It seems as if you see that a lot more frequently in today's world than even when my kids were growing up. But Lindsey is always thinking and planning and dreaming about not only who she is, but what she might want to do with her life. I'd personally like her to see her just enjoying her childhood more, and stressing less about what lies ahead, and wanting so much less for that process to be hurried up. But here is somewhat how our conversation went...."Grandma, daddy told me today that when we die and close our eyes that will immediately be in heaven with Him. Do you believe that too?" And I of couse answered, "Yes, I do Lindsey." The Bible tell us in 2Cr 5:8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. That means that when we die and close our eyes here, we will immediately open them to see the face of Jesus if we belong to Him." And then she said, "Well, I belong to Him. Daddy told me that if I haved asked him to come into my heart and live then I am saved. That is right isn't it?" And I told her, "Yes, Lindsey that is how it works." Now here is where she became quite advanced as far as I am concerned and let me know that as young as she is the Holy Spirit has definitely been at work in her little heart. She then said, "Grandma I don't think that just because I am saved it means I can act however I want to." And again I had to say, "No, you’re VERY right. Christians are saved, but the things they do AFTER they are saved are signs as to rather or not their hearts really belong to Him. We should always try to do the things we know He wants us to do." And she said, "Today at school there were some girls who were making fun of Maddie, and I felt so sorry for her." I said, "Why were they making fun of her?" And she said, "She has a brace on her leg because her leg will ALWAYS be broken." Now of course I have no idea what is really wrong with this little girl’s leg, but that was Lindsey's concept of the situation. And I said, "Well that does seem really mean. And it does seem like a weird thing to make fun of. She obviously can't help that her leg is hurt. Sometimes other kids are just plain mean." And she said, "Well, I told the other girls to stop. That is wasn't funny and it wasn't nice." I said, "Did they stop then?" She said, "Kind of, but they seemed mad at me." I went on to tell her that doing what Jesus would have us do is not always the kind of thing that makes others happy and makes us popular. Sometimes it does make people angry, and might even make them not like you. It is hard to stand up for what you know is right, and that it will get harder and harder the older she gets. She ended up saying, "Well I know that is what Jesus would want me to do, but now I think these girls will probably talk about me behind my back." And you know what? They probably will. Living a life for Him is hard even when you are only 9 years old. How I would like to protect ALL of my grandchildren from things such as this. But I obviously can't. We live in a fallen world and there is sin clear down in elementary school. But praise God that we do know the end of the story and who is triumphant in the end. I told Lindsey, "Well, you can happy knowing today that you pleased Jesus.  It doesn't matter what these girls think. And if there are days when you fail and you know you haven't pleased Him, all you have to do is ask for His forgiveness and He forgives us. Every day is a new day to please Him."

2Cr 5:9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

How wonderful it is that this simple truth is true for all of us as well. Living our lives every day to please Him as best we can, asking forgiveness when we fail, and KNOWING He loves us always and forever. Just doesn't get any better I am thinking...

I am asking that you might keep my son's car situation in prayer.  I do believe that the Lord has it in His hands and will work "something" out.  I look forward to seeing what that might be. 

To enjoy other Spiritual Sunday posts click HERE.  May you all have a wonderful week-end.