Intentional Training/Modeling/Practicing

“Keep it up mamas -- keep teaching, guiding, setting high expectations.  Keep talking even when they don’t seem to be listening.  And most of all, live it out in front of them.  In our world of cut-throat competition, there’s still room for Godly character.”

~ Kristy Ray Parrott

During this season, we are once again reminded of the importance of intentional training, modeling, and offering opportunities to our children, grandchildren, and others to put into practice what is being taught.  May the lessons be so instilled in their hearts and minds, that they become the natural response when situations arise.

Abel Mutai from Kenya and Ivan Fernandez Anaya, a Spanish runner, were in first and second place in the running race.  Mutai was the bronze medalist in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, at the London Olympics, so being in second place in the race was quite a feat for Anaya.  As the runners were approaching the end of the race, Ivan noticed that Mutai started slowing down about 10 meters short of the Finish Line.  Due to confusing signage, he thought he had completed and won the race.  Realizing what was happening, this could have been Anaya’s big chance to run ahead and win the race.  Instead, he caught up with Mutai and yelled at him to keep running.  Not understanding Spanish, Mutai was still perplexed about what to do.  Anaya continued to wave his arms, gesture, and point his opponent to the real Finish Line.  As they ran together, Anaya allowed Mutai to cross first.

When interviewed and asked about his response, Ivan Fernandez Anaya responded, “He was the rightful winner.  He created a gap that I couldn’t have closed if he hadn’t made a mistake.  As soon as I saw he was stopping, I knew I wasn’t going to pass him.”  Another journalist asked Ivan why he did that.  Ivan replied, “My dream is that someday we can have that kind of community life.”  The journalist pressed on and still wanted to know why he let the Kenyan win.  Ivan responded, “I didn’t let him win, he was going to win.”  The journalist looked at him and said, “But you could have won!”  Anaya looked at him and then responded, “But what would the merit be of my victory?  What would be the honour of that medal?  What would my Mom think of that?”

Values are instilled, modeled, and lived out from generation to generation.  The ways we invest in and teach our children, grandchildren, and others has the potential for making a difference in our world for these days and the years beyond.  If we are not intentionally teaching our children God’s way, the world will step in and teach them its ways.  Which voice will they hear louder, when decisions need to be made?

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Deuteronomy 6:4-7

Start children off the way they should go,

     and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Proverbs 22:6

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:4

Do Something

“Do the best you can until you know better.

Then, when you know better, do better.”

~ Maya Angelou

Former Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee recounts the story of an 11-year-old girl who visited Yad V’shen, the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem, for the first time.  The parents debated if their daughter was old enough to grasp the significance of the displays, vivid pictures, films, and audio reports and how it might affect her.  It was decided that the father would stay with the young girl so he could assess her reactions and take her out, if he deemed it best.  The child was speechless as she went from room to room.  At times, she would reach up and take her father’s hand, but still without saying anything.  As the tour came to an end, there was a guestbook to sign.  The young girl reached in her father’s pocket and retrieved his pen.  She wrote down her name and address.  There was also a space for comments.  As her father peered over her shoulder, he saw his daughter write, “Why didn’t somebody do something?”  Sarah Huckabee then put the pen back in her father’s pocket and they left the museum in silence.  Governor Huckabee concluded, “Let it never happen that someday some father would have to hear his daughter ask the question: “Why didn’t somebody do something?”

Years later, Sarah Huckabee Sanders recounted that, “A visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem as a child served as a reminder of what can happen when good people allow evil to triumph.  Christians should never, ever, ever allow that to be them.  God calls each of us to take a stand against evil and a stand for what is right.”

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” ~ Edmund Burke

During these days, as we are learning and growing, may we…

* pray as our first line of defense, rather than our last resort

* read, study, and apply God’s Word

* listen carefully

* respond in love

* research

* act when prompted

* exhibit patience

* have a teachable spirit

* make right when we are wrong

* never give up or stop learning

* do something

Create in me a pure heart, O God,

     And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10

Search me, God, and know my heart;

     test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,

     and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24

Learn to do right; seek justice.

     Defend the oppressed.

Take up the cause of the fatherless;

     plead the case of the widow.

Isaiah 1:17

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

John 13:34

Do everything in love.

1 Corinthians 16:14

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge, I will repay,” says the Lord. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:17-19, 21

Seeing and Perceiving

“The eyes are the window to your soul.”

~ William Shakespeare

With social distancing, quarantine precautions, and the wearing of masks, the eyes tend to be our focal point for recognizing the people we encounter.  Since the mouth and other facial parts are covered by the mask, it is sometimes difficult to discern expressions.  With effort, much can be revealed when taking the time to look into a person’s eyes. 

This season of quarantine and slow re-entry is also giving us the time to take a good look at the needs of others, situations, as well as self-inventory.  May we concentrate on seeing, listening, looking for changes that need to be made, and then taking action on what needs to be done.  Isaiah warned that we can have eyes that see, but do not perceive.  My prayer for these days is that we can take and make the time to see and perceive through God’s eyes, eyes that also see with the heart.

“Father’s Eyes”

Gary Chapman

And on that day when we will pay for all the deeds we have done,

Good and bad they’ll all be had to see by everyone.

And when you’re called to stand and tell just what you saw in me,

More than anything I know, I want your words to be,

She had her father’s eyes,

Her father’s eyes;

Eyes that found the good in things,

When good was not around,

Eyes that found the source of help,

When help would not be found;

Eyes full of compassion,

Seeing every pain;

Knowing what you’re going through,

And feeling it the same.

Just like my Father’s eyes.

And whether we are wearing a mask or not, when others look at us, may they see that we have our Father’s eyes.

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.”

Matthew 6:22

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Psalm 16:8

The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

Psalm 19:8

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

Psalm 119:18

For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.

2 Corinthians 8:21

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Ephesians 1:18-19a

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

Hebrews 12:1-2a