On Saturday, I was working with some of my kids. We were working for the Nativity that we are doing for the second service of Christmas Eve. As we were working through our stage plots and reviewing our lines, one of our kids kept talking about Joseph being Jesus’ father. At first, I didn’t think much of this. But, this topic kept coming up. So, I thought I might want to check and see what these kids knew. Turns out, they all thought Jesus was the son of Joseph. Well, Joseph served as Jesus’ earthly father, so they are technically right. However, they’re wrong. So, now I have a predicament. How do you explain this topic to ten and eleven year olds without using the language adults would use? I can say the phrase “virgin birth” all day long and they have no clue what I am talking about. They just don’t understand. I am very thankful they are so innocent. I wouldn’t want it any other way… but, this detail is so important. It is the KEY to the Christmas story. So, here I was, talking to these little ones about Jesus’ birth on a Saturday morning. So, here we go.
It was obvious that they didn’t know what I was talking about at first. So, we started with the Trinity. I explained what each part of the Trinity does and then we put it into perspective of the Christmas story. After we determined what God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit does for each of us, we then moved to the miraculous birth of the Baby Jesus. Basically, this young girl had her “tummy” touched by the Holy Spirit and a baby was formed. That’s incredible!! I think they understood this… I think. J Then we talked about how Mary and Joseph were engaged. One kid said, “So, that’s why they couldn’t have a baby? They weren’t married.” Yes, of course that’s it. J So, this took a little explaining, but we got through it. We discussed how God is the Father of Baby Jesus. If you think about it, that’s pretty hard to understand. How many of us truly grasp what that is? That’s incredible and goes well beyond our realm of comprehension. But, it’s essential for us to have some understanding of this to have a relationship with God.
If Joseph was Jesus’ father, as Christians, we’re in trouble. Jesus had to be both fully God and fully man. So, as one of my kids said, He was two people in one. This is absolutely true. He was man and grew up as a man. However, He was God and performed miracles that only God could do. Talk about mind blowing… Our God, came as a baby, grew up, and died as a sinless, perfect sacrifice for me!! If I think about all the people that God would do this for, my name doesn’t come to mind. Why me? I don’t deserve this at all!! This season is so important. I’m thankful that these kids have helped me refocus and truly think about the Christmas season!!
-Just my thoughts…
About Me
- Andrew
- I am married to the best woman in the world and she's way out of my league. Way to go, me. I love being the father of our little boy, Romey. We were blessed with him on July 8, 2010. My daughter, Paisley Joy, brings me so much joy. She joined our family on July 23, 2012. We also have a dog, Sasha, our Shiba Pug. I wear many hats as a music pastor while Courtney works as a music teacher in Kettering. Life is Good!!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Never Easy
Yesterday, I made one of the most difficult decisions of my life, to this point. Due to unknown intestinal problems, I had to have my sweet dog, Ike, put down. Ike was the best dog in the world. I know a lot of people say that about their pets and we're all a little biased, but Ike was the best.
Ike was my buddy from day 1. He was so sweet and so gentle. I loved him so much. He was part of my family. I struggled as Courtney and I had to make a decision. He was beginning to suffer. I don't understand why. He wasn't even 10, yet. In my mind, I knew we had a few more years together. In fact, I had just told Ike he needed to get better because we had plenty of living left to do. He and I talked a lot. Well, I talked. He just looked at me with his soft eyes and wagged his tail. :) We walked around outside and talked about things going on. We did this everyday. He was more than just a pet. I got Ike when I was 17. I had almost 10 years with him. It wasn't long enough. But, I guess it never is...
The hardest part of this decision was I chose to put him down... It was my choice. I was doing the right thing. I was being responsible. I was doing what was best for him... But, I still chose to do it. That's where I'm stuck. I'm struggling with that decision. I loved my buddy very much and I can't help but feel that I took his life from him. Don't get me wrong. I understand it was the right thing to do. I couldn't let him suffer. He was suffering. Dogs can't tell you they don't feel well. They can't tell you where it hurts. When they get sick, they want to go hide. It's just the way it is. I couldn't fix him. I couldn't make it all better. All I could do was love on him and take away the pain.
One of Ike's favorite things was to eat. We called every meal breakfast. I would fill the mug with food and take it to his bowl. He would spin around and circles and get so happy that he was getting fed. We called it his breakfast dance. Everyday he did this. Part of him getting sick involved him not being able to keep food down. In fact, it wasn't even getting to his stomach. It would go in and it would come back out a few hours later. Yet, everyday, he got so excited to eat. I miss that. I missed that this morning. Today, I only fed Sasha. Today, I walked Sasha and talked to her. Sasha is Courtney's pug mix. I love Sasha, too, but Ike was my buddy. I miss him.
I want to think of the happy times. I think about when I first got Ike. I think about the fun we had outside. I remember falling asleep with him. I think about playing fetch... although he never understood he was to bring the ball back. I remember he and Sasha wrestling. I remember going downstairs and having him knock me over trying to beat me. I remember happy times. I also remember times I ignored him. I remember not making him a priority. I don't like those thoughts. I regret not spending more time with him. I regret not putting him first when I had the time.
In a lot of ways, I equate this with our Heavenly Father. Even though I didn't always focus on Ike and even though I got angry with him at times, he loved me unconditionally. He never held a grudge. He never wanted me to leave, but I had to go to work. He would be sad, but he would be so excited every time I returned home. I know I do that to God all the time. I walk away from Him. I don't love Him the way I should. I get angry with Him. I push Him aside because I'm busy with something else. Yet, He loves me unconditionally. That's something that goes far beyond my realm of comprehension. That's a lesson that I'm still trying to learn. I think I have a glimpse of God's love because I've had Ike in my life.
Maybe that's too far of a stretch, but it makes sense to me. I really do miss my Ikey. I know it will get easier, but nothing will ever replace him. Ike was special. He really was the world's best dog. There will never be another. I may have another dog someday, but that dog won't be Ikey. Ike will be missed so much by the family.
-Just my thoughts...
Ike was my buddy from day 1. He was so sweet and so gentle. I loved him so much. He was part of my family. I struggled as Courtney and I had to make a decision. He was beginning to suffer. I don't understand why. He wasn't even 10, yet. In my mind, I knew we had a few more years together. In fact, I had just told Ike he needed to get better because we had plenty of living left to do. He and I talked a lot. Well, I talked. He just looked at me with his soft eyes and wagged his tail. :) We walked around outside and talked about things going on. We did this everyday. He was more than just a pet. I got Ike when I was 17. I had almost 10 years with him. It wasn't long enough. But, I guess it never is...
The hardest part of this decision was I chose to put him down... It was my choice. I was doing the right thing. I was being responsible. I was doing what was best for him... But, I still chose to do it. That's where I'm stuck. I'm struggling with that decision. I loved my buddy very much and I can't help but feel that I took his life from him. Don't get me wrong. I understand it was the right thing to do. I couldn't let him suffer. He was suffering. Dogs can't tell you they don't feel well. They can't tell you where it hurts. When they get sick, they want to go hide. It's just the way it is. I couldn't fix him. I couldn't make it all better. All I could do was love on him and take away the pain.
One of Ike's favorite things was to eat. We called every meal breakfast. I would fill the mug with food and take it to his bowl. He would spin around and circles and get so happy that he was getting fed. We called it his breakfast dance. Everyday he did this. Part of him getting sick involved him not being able to keep food down. In fact, it wasn't even getting to his stomach. It would go in and it would come back out a few hours later. Yet, everyday, he got so excited to eat. I miss that. I missed that this morning. Today, I only fed Sasha. Today, I walked Sasha and talked to her. Sasha is Courtney's pug mix. I love Sasha, too, but Ike was my buddy. I miss him.
I want to think of the happy times. I think about when I first got Ike. I think about the fun we had outside. I remember falling asleep with him. I think about playing fetch... although he never understood he was to bring the ball back. I remember he and Sasha wrestling. I remember going downstairs and having him knock me over trying to beat me. I remember happy times. I also remember times I ignored him. I remember not making him a priority. I don't like those thoughts. I regret not spending more time with him. I regret not putting him first when I had the time.
In a lot of ways, I equate this with our Heavenly Father. Even though I didn't always focus on Ike and even though I got angry with him at times, he loved me unconditionally. He never held a grudge. He never wanted me to leave, but I had to go to work. He would be sad, but he would be so excited every time I returned home. I know I do that to God all the time. I walk away from Him. I don't love Him the way I should. I get angry with Him. I push Him aside because I'm busy with something else. Yet, He loves me unconditionally. That's something that goes far beyond my realm of comprehension. That's a lesson that I'm still trying to learn. I think I have a glimpse of God's love because I've had Ike in my life.
Maybe that's too far of a stretch, but it makes sense to me. I really do miss my Ikey. I know it will get easier, but nothing will ever replace him. Ike was special. He really was the world's best dog. There will never be another. I may have another dog someday, but that dog won't be Ikey. Ike will be missed so much by the family.
-Just my thoughts...
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