Day 189 - December 20 - Whee?
When Connor was just a wee tot, I used to play with him by tossing him up in the air and catching him as he came back down. (Now, in case you didn't catch it, one of two reactions just went through your brain. If you are a woman, your reaction was most likely some variation of "Oh my goodness, how could someone be so callous as to toss a baby up in the air? I'm traumatized, and I think I'm getting the vapors..." And, if you're a guy, you probably thought "Oh, yeah, I remember tossing my kids up in the air too. That was a lot of fun!!!" So don't be too quick to judge - you're either guilty of it your ownself, or your husband tossed your kids up in the air, too.) Either way, that's not important. What I was getting at before I drifted off into Inconsequentialville was that I always loved playing with my kids that way. I was thinking about it today, though, and an application came to mind that I thought I would share with you.
I got to thinking about what must have been going through Connor's mind as I tossed him up and down. What did he think? Was he thinking "Woohoo!!! Dad is the greatest!!! What a blast, getting tossed five feet into the air!!! Woohoo!!!" or was he thinking "Aaaarrrrrggggghhhh! Put me down, put me down, put me down!!!!" Since he laughed a lot, I figure it was mostly the first, but the reason it was the first was that the boy trusted me not to drop him. Interestingly, I don't think he ever asked "Why are you throwing up me up in the air, Pops?" - he just assumed I knew what I was doing and enjoyed the ride. There was something in him that was completely confident in his father's intentions, skill, and execution, and so he laughed and giggled and grinned his way up and down.
I think there's a reason Jesus said that the kingdom of God belongs to children and those like them - He wants us to trust Him like little children trust their Papas - implicitly and instinctively. And that's something at which I am very, very bad. My level of faith and trust in my Father ebbs and flows more violently than the stock market. I can't go a week - nay, I can't go a day without throwing away my confidence in God. Hey, wait a minute! Didn't I blog about that a long time ago? Yep, Hebrews 10:35. See what I mean? I can't be consistent at all, and it is extremely frustrating.
Fortunately for us, God is faithful even when we aren't. Despite our failings, God looks at us and sees Christ's sacrifice on the cross; and Psalm 103 says that He removes our transgressions from us "as far as the east is from the west" (which is pretty far, if you ask me). And so He is faithful to catch us, whether we have fallen on our own, or He has tossed us up in the air.
But trusting Him to catch us is still pretty scary.
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posted by Eric Williamson @ 8:06 PM
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8 Comments:
Good Morning Williamson crew,
Thinking about you all and praying for you this early Sunday morning.
Merry Christmas from the snowy Northwest
I continue to check in on your blog and pray for Connor and you all. May God graciously grant your Christmas wish of seeing Connor walk again.
Strength, peace, faith & hope,
Kirk Petersen
Greater Portland Pastor
I discovered Brendan was afraid of heights when he was a few months old and his uncle through him up in the air. The boy stiffened up so tight and has this look of his face that said, "Never do that again!" :)
On the other subject, I find that it is easier to have so much faith in God for someone else's trial. I have no problem believing that God will do miracles in Connor's life.
It's my "trials" that I struggle with daily. Some of the days, I am good, the others (which are usually more) not so much! :)
I am praying for you all daily!
It certainly is easier to trust God for other people's trials - mainly because learning to trust is pretty ongoing for most of us, so He does put us in places where He keeps stretching us.
We were in church this morning, the first time I (Alison) had seen Connor since the accident, although my children have been there and seen him. It was so good to see him there, I gave thanks to God for the progress in that, and also for his bravery. Keep holding on, Connor. We are continuing to pray for you all.
Dear Williams Family,
I think that, from Gods's perspective, His children are never just tumbling in mid-air outside of His presence and permission. Our Father knows exactly where we are at all times and has long-term objectives in place for our bounces and bumps! To be groomed and prepared by the Lord for purposes beyond our understanding takes the kind of trust you are talking about on our part! He has proven Himself trustworthy over and over again--He can be trusted with this trial and with all that comes with it. It takes tremendous faith and trust to say, "Lord, whatever You want to do with this situation, I bow to Your wisdom and Your purposes--You know what MY desire is, but I surrender to YOUR perfect plan, whatever it entails."
I love how you look to and for God's perfecting work in your lives; you can see His hand at work at times and you rejoice that He is molding, shaping and refining you. But I know that YOU know He is at work ALL the time, in every instance of our lives--and His work is never in vain! It is always purpose-filled, substantive and meaningful. As you wait during the days that seem same old, same old, know that He sees each day as fresh and vibrant and new, building upon what He has been doing the day before. He loves you, He loves Connor, He loves your family--His plan has called all of you into a place foreign and uncomfortable and challenging--but He is right there with you regardless of where you are. May the Spirit of the Living Word, fall fresh on you.
Earnest Christmas blessings,
Carolyn A.
Sorry, I meant to write Williamson in the above post!
Tex,
Ditto Bro, .... well put.
Eric, Thank you for your message on Sunday about trust. I sure needed to hear that. I know that I need to trust God a lot more than I do. Your message put me back on track. Thank you. Marge from Spring Creek, NV
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