Because He Holds Me

    The other day, Stitch and Little Sister were having a conversation.  Now, if you are a parent or teacher or anyone else who spends a lot of time around little kids, you know that their conversations can be very interesting!  And also sometimes surprisingly profound. 

     They were talking about family relationships, and who loves whom, and why they love the other people in our family.  So, Little Sister says, "Well, do you know why I love Daddy?"  Stitch replied with, "Because he's Daddy, of course!" (In a tone of superior knowledge...)  And she answers him right back (in her own tone of superiority!), "No!  Because he holds me!" 

    I smiled to myself and later posted a little funny report about it on Facebook, and didn't really think about it much more at that moment.  But it wouldn't leave me.  I kept hearing it in the back of my mind over the next couple of days.  And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it was such a pure and simple expression of faith. 

    You see, Little Sister has faith that Daddy will always be able to hold her.  She doesn't think that one day she will be too big, or that Daddy might be too old.  She just knows that right now, this day, he can hold her.  She can run to him and he will scoop her up and make her feel safe and loved. 

    This must be the faith that Jesus was talking about when He told the disciples about the faith of a child.  This must be the kind of faith that God the Father wants us to have in His ability to hold us.  But we "grow up."  We think we have to catch ourselves, or make a plan, or maybe just not fall in the first place.  We forget to trust in our Heavenly Father just because He holds us.  Our circumstances overwhelm us, and we forget.

     Unlike earthly fathers, God will always be there for us.  He won't leave us, abandon us, or forget us.  He's never not paying attention to us, or too busy to see what we have going on.  He will hold us.  And we can love Him for so many things, but most especially that.  We can love Him because He holds us!  Or, in His own Words, "We love Him because He first loved us."  :)

    

Don't Forget Dad!

   This Sunday is Father's Day. So, I thought I'd put down a few thoughts that I've had lately about our dads and how important they are in our lives, and the lives of our kids.  


   I am so grateful for my own dad.  He has always been the best example of Christ-like giving that I can think of.  When people talk about generosity, or selflessness, it is always my dad that I think of.  Because he will literally give you the last of whatever he has without thought for himself.  I hope to be as giving as he is one day.  I am also grateful that my dad is still around, because a year ago he almost wasn't.  During the scary time of his cancer battle, I always had peace that God would bring him through.  I am glad that this Father's Day, he is here and healthy! 


  I am also grateful for the Godly husband I have, who does his best every day to be a great dad to our sons.  He is tough, yet loving, and that's what boys need the most!  He is so great about spending time with them, doing Legos, teaching them to ride bikes or plant a garden, and instructing them in how to live in the right way.  I hope my boys will grow up to be great dads--just like their dad was for them! 


  I found a poem the other day in a book I have, and I just thought I'd share it.  It was written by Edgar Guest, and I found it in The Book of Virtues by William J. Bennett.  It really exemplifies what being a dad is about to me; the sacrifice, commitment, and courage it takes every day to be a father.  

"Only A Dad"

Only a dad with a tired face,

Coming home from the daily race,

Bringing little gold or fame

To show how well he has played the game;

But glad in his heart that his own rejoice

To see him come and to hear his voice.

Only a dad with a brood of four,

Of ten million men or more

Plodding along in the daily strife,

Bearing the whips and scorns of life,

With never a whimper of pain or hate,

For the sake of those who at home await.

Only a dad, neither rich or proud,

Merely one of the surging crowd,

Toiling, striving from day to day,

Facing whatever may come his way,

Silent whenever the harsh condemn,

And bearing it all for the love of them.

Only a dad but he gives his all, 

To smooth the way for his children small,

Doing with courage stern and grim

The deeds that his father did for him.

This is the line that for him I pen:

Only a dad, but the best of men.

  Happy Father's Day!   We love our dads! :)