The Party

We are busy at this house. My son turns twenty. I can’t believe that he is now twenty years old. Where has all the time gone? Wasn’t it only last week that we brought him home from China? I remember the trip well. It was just after Thanksgiving when we met him for the first time. And when we returned to the United States, it was cold and snowy at Denver’s airport. We were tired and friends of ours met us there and drove us home to Nebraska. What a special time that was too. And now, he is no longer a teenager, but a young man in college. So how are we celebrating this monumental day?

When my son turned eighteen, he wanted to invite a few close friends over for a meal that he had prepared and cooked. He cooked Chinese food, and his friends loved it. There were few leftovers that day. So, when I asked him how he wanted to celebrate his twentieth birthday, I thought he would go out with friends, or spend the day shopping and eating in a restaurant. But no! He wanted to invite a few friends over and cook Chinese food for them.

We live in a different house than when he turned eighteen. We have a real dining room now, an actual one, and not a table in the kitchen as before. We both love that feature of our old 1918 home. And so, he asked me if he could invite a few friends over and cook Chinese food. Of course, I said yes with one condition. He would do all the prep work (and there’s a lot of that) and let me do the cooking so that he could sit at the table with his friends. At first, he wasn’t sure he wanted me to do that, but the more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea.

We decided together to serve this meal as a Chinese banquet. They are different than the way Americans have banquets. In America, you are served one plate of food and perhaps a dessert at the end of the meal. The Chinese really know how to party. When you go to one of their banquets, you will be served one dish at a time. You will sit there and enjoy leisure time while waiting for the next dish. It will take time, and you will probably stuff yourself on the first few dishes and be too full for the last few, that is, if you aren’t careful to pace yourself. I wanted to cook the dishes that my son prepared so that he could sit with his friends at the table and enjoy the meal with them. Many of the dishes of food he planned would be made the day before. A lot of the prep work was done one to two days before. He has done most of the work and all I did was bring it all together and serve it. We have a few decorations too. My son hung festive Chinese lanterns in the dining room and around the living room. They will add to the mood of the meal, I think.

My son created the menu and has done the shopping. He even made a special trip to Lincoln, Nebraska to go shopping at a couple of Chinese grocery stores. He bought meat and egg custard buns to steam. He bought egg tarts we can bake for dessert. He bought canned lychee to serve at the end of the meal. He bought shrimp dumplings to be steamed and served. He bought all his favorite dishes that we could make at the last minute. He also has made char sui, a special pork that is basically a slice of Chinese barbecued meat. He loves the stuff, and we make it often. He made fried rice and egg drop soup. Of course, we had noodles, lots of them and he made fried tofu for his friends to taste. There are a lot more dishes of food we served. But I can guarantee you that it is all tasty and his friends are in for a treat!

One trick I learned many years ago when I was doing a lot of Chinese cooking for friends and family is to have one dish served for each person attending the banquet. So, if you have six people coming for dinner, you have six main course dishes of food. This will not include appetizer plates, soup, or the traditional fruit served at the end of the meal. The variety of foods makes the guests feel comfortable. If they don’t like a certain food, they won’t go hungry because something different will be coming. Eventually, they will find something they like to eat. It also makes for a lot more work than a traditional American-style banquet. However, I like this way of dining with friends. You have their attention for several hours rather than the eat-and-run attitude in America.

When planning on who to invite, my son was talking to his sister and nieces, and he mentioned that maybe seven people would be coming. His oldest niece is eleven, and she blurted out, “You mean you have seven friends?” Her mother chided her for being rude, but in all reality, I think she thought the same thing. Now that we are ready to party, the final guest list of those who responded that they would be coming is twelve! Add my son and that is thirteen! WoW! Now, any Chinese hostess will tell you that having thirteen guests at the table brings bad luck, so I am including myself as a guest. After all, I will be in the kitchen tasting every dish before it is served to be certain it tastes good. Fourteen people who like my son will be attending his special twentieth party. I am just hoping that more who were invited but didn’t respond that they were coming don’t show up! I only have fourteen rice bowls, but we can always use the American bowls if we need to. We will have plenty of chopsticks and forks, so no worries there! The table holds ten comfortably, so we added a card table and made it the head table at one end!

As you are reading this, the banquet probably hasn’t happened yet. I mean, this blog is posted on Tuesday night in Nebraska and the banquet is on Wednesday night. So, there is a lot of do or did in this writing. Now you know why! I am so excited for my son to celebrate with people who like being his friends. Some of the people attending will be friends he went to high school with. Others will be college friends. And some will be people who he went to high school with but plays games online with and knows mostly from there. Our house will be full and I’m pretty sure they will all have a good time. One friend asked how long the meal would last as they might have plans for later in the evening. My son asked me the question and I told him to tell them the meal will probably take about three hours. That’s how long most of my Chinese banquet home meals take. He told everyone that they could come at five and food would be served at six. If they can’t make it until six that would be fine too. What a special way to celebrate turning twenty years old.

A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.  Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. Luke 22:23-27, (New International Version or NIV).

Jesus taught His disciples and us today that serving others is better than being a king who gets served by others. Why would this be? When a king has a banquet people attend because they gain something from the king. They are given bragging rights, prestige, power over others, and all sorts of things. But the servers are humble and simply do their job well.  Jesus teaches us to be servants, humble in nature, and in places to help others. My son has a servant’s heart. I think his group of friends shows that. To have so many wanting to come to celebrate with him is a testament to his kindness and generosity. Some of his friends need to know that there are others who care. They work in delis and wash dishes or cook in local restaurants. Yet, my son treats them as well as his college friends. That is why he is liked by so many. We all can learn from Jesus about serving others. All of us.

Until next time…Katherine

The Importance of Daddy

Recently it was Father’s Day in the United States. It is a time to celebrate dear old dad! Having a dad is something that not everyone experiences, but for those who have a good dad, it is a very special time to honor him. In the week leading up to Father’s Day, I had the pleasure of spending it with my three granddaughters and their mom, my daughter. Their dad had to be out of town and the youngest granddaughter is only seven weeks old. I love spending time with them all and I did a lot of cooking and holding those precious granddaughters too. I asked the girls what they wanted to get their dad for Father’s Day and his birthday, it’s shortly after. They told me that they asked their daddy what he wanted, and he said he didn’t want anything he could hold in his hand, he just wanted to come home to a clean house. The five-year-old told me they would have to do a lot of cleaning to give him that present. I think that is quite an exaggeration since their home is practically spotless. I can, however, see in the playroom some cleaning is needed. But mostly, their dad just wants to be home with his family.

My son-in-law is a family man. He does a lot for his girls, all four of them! He is the kind of dad I wish my son had when he was growing up. He is the kind of dad that can be strict, when necessary, but never harsh. He explains the rules and when one is bent or broken, he is firm but also explains in such a way as not to hurt little feelings.  When he would call every day while he was away, his girls ran to their mom holding the phone as soon as they heard their dad’s voice. It didn’t matter if they were two rooms away, they ran to see him on the phone and talk to him. He always says, “Hello, daughters!” I love seeing them light up and become so bubbly when they talk to their dad. Most of the time their mom is busy nursing the baby or changing a diaper, so she hands them the phone and tells them to talk to Dad. They run into the living room and have long conversations with him. It’s so cool to witness! It is obvious to anyone that those girls love their dad!

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. Psalm 103:13-18, (New International Version or NIV).

My son doesn’t know his biological parents as we adopted him from an orphanage in China when he was seventeen months old. Because of the divorce and the lack of scheduling in a timely manner, he doesn’t know his adoptive dad either, only who he is and what he does for a living.  It has been years since he spoke to the man. My father passed away many years ago, so my son has not had a good father figure in his life. But I do not despair because God has been so good to my son and me. Knowing that we have a Heavenly Father brings much comfort. When I don’t know what to do or how to handle certain situations, I pray to God and ask for help. He has never failed me; He always answers my prayers and does so graciously. I have confidence in God’s love for me and my family.

I know that I will only be here on this earth for a few more years and will pass away like the grass. I hope I have been a good role model to all my children. I hope that they see Jesus in me. I hope they realize that my strength has come from the Lord to face every day and situation. I hope they see me as a compassionate person because I have followed the precepts of God and tried my best to do what is right in His eyes.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:1-4, (NIV).

I heard a lot through the years about children needing to obey their parents. Perhaps that was because my brother and I fought so often and drove my mom crazy at times! I don’t remember ever hearing as a child the next verse, which is that fathers are not to exasperate their children. What does exasperate mean exactly, do you know?

According to the Oxford Dictionary, it means: irritate and frustrate (someone) intensely (exasperated definition – Search (bing.com)). Merriam-Webster gives us more details in their definition: to cause irritation or annoyance to, to excite the anger of: Enrage, to make more grievous: Aggregate, (Exasperate Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster).  I think this is clear now, fathers are not to discipline too harshly, harass, ignore, or show favoritism to one over the other because these are some of the reasons that children become exasperated with their dads. I have seen dads who were not good to their children. Some dads seem to love one child more than another, this is exasperating for me to witness so I can only imagine how the other children must feel. I have seen dads who are too harsh in discipline too. I have seen dads abandon their children which leaves a lifetime loss for the child to deal with. I have seen children become enraged at how they were treated by their dad. Foster care is filled with such cases. How sad it is too and how difficult it is for foster parents to help the children overcome such grievances.

I am thankful God does not treat us harshly when we make mistakes and sin. He does not let us get by with sinning either, especially if we have a close relationship with Jesus. I know in my own life that my conscience will bother me until I ask God to forgive me for some sin I have committed. I am also thankful that my dad did not treat me harshly while growing up. He was a good Father, and I am forever thankful that he was. He was patient most of the time, but he also taught me many good things through the years. And I see my son-in-law being patient and teaching his girls good things too. It warms my heart to see this.

Daddys are important. They have a lifelong impact on their children, for good or bad. If you have a contentious relationship with your dad, I’m sorry. I know it is painful for you. Just know that you are not alone, there are many who have bad dads. But your Heavenly Father is not a bad dad and will help you through each day and every situation if you let Him.

Until next time…Katherine

Family Time

It was a beautiful day when all my children were in one place for a day. Considering that two live out of state and far from home, it was very special for all of us. We all came together to celebrate the birth of my youngest granddaughter. She is a month old and very cute. I know, grandmas always think that their grandbabies are cute! I admit it! But we all had a great time and good food too.

My eldest daughter did most of the cooking and she is a wonderful cook. I was so glad to finally get to eat her cooking as it has been years and years since that happened. There are several of us on restricted diets, yet she came up with dishes that we all could eat. For the non-dairy people, she had a fantastic dessert of a chocolate pie made from avocados. I was amazed! She also made a pizza bar where we could make our own pizza and then she baked it for us. She had made individual sized pizza crusts and then had every kind of topping you could ever want for the pizza. I made mine with red pizza sauce, tofu, mozzarella cheese, and Mexican blend shredded cheese. I had never thought of putting tofu on top of my pizza. I liked it. There was pasta salad, potato salad, lettuce to make a salad, and so much more. She really out did herself and I am very thankful as was everyone else.

We also had many great conversations. I was just happy to sit and listen to them all as they got caught up on the years apart. We keep in touch through social media, but it isn’t quite the same as hearing the latest news in your life. We all took turns holding the youngest which was a whole lot of fun too. We also took turns interacting and playing with the two older sisters. They loved it and so did we. Tons of photos were taken and even some videos. I requested that we have a recreation of an old family photo from when my children were all young. They balked at it, but they also did it and it was really fun to see. Just one of those silly things that we do for our families, I guess. I won’t be sharing it because I don’t want them to feel embarrassed. So many good memories were made in that short span of time. I am so thankful for the time we all had together.

Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Timothy 5:7-8, (New International Version or NIV).

We all came together to help each other. My youngest daughter had her third baby and she needed help. Her husband was still working, and her children were still in school. Their family needed help and we all rallied around them and gave them much love and help. I was there when the baby was born and helped for a week or so until my eldest could fly in and stay for the next three weeks helping out. Then my middle one came for a few days to help out after the eldest flew home. My son and I will help out in the next few weeks too. It is just one of those times when we needed to be available to do what we could for our loved ones.

We all love each other and that is what family is all about. Most of us don’t agree on many subjects. We don’t all agree about the Bible. We don’t all agree about politics. We don’t even all agree about current ideologies. But we do agree on loving each other because we are a family and that is what is most important. Our family has been through some tough times in the past twenty years, yet we have pulled through and shown each other that we care about each other. There is one missing from the family gathering because of our divorce, but it was his choice to leave, and it has been our choice to let him go. We have finally come to that place in healing that we don’t even think of him when we all get together. What a blessing this is for all of us.

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed;, Proverbs 31:25-28a, (NIV).

As I sat enjoying having all my children and grandchildren around me, I couldn’t help but think how blessed I am. We had some dark times, and the road of healing was not an easy one, but we made it! I am blessed and I felt that my children were all blessing me too. What a special moment for me. I know that I am loved, appreciated, and cared for. We all have dignity and strength. We all can laugh at the days to come because we are a family that love each other. I am also thankful that when I pass from this earth into glory, my children will still be a family that loves to get together and hang out! This is an answer to my prayers. I see so many families who sort of fall apart when the parents pass away. Each brother or sister goes their own way, busy raising their own families and somehow forget to remain close to their siblings after their parents pass away. I have always hoped that my family would not do this and what I saw in our recent short time together is unity, fellowship, and love. What a blessing.

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:7-10, (NIV).

We have another family that we also need to protect, take care of, and remember to help out whenever we can. That family is the Family of God. We are all adopted into this family (Ephesians 1:3-6) and we have the responsibility to take care of His family. We all might not agree on what the Bible says. We might not agree on politics. We might not agree on ideology. We might not all look the same or act the same or think the same or even speak the same language. But we all are a part of God’s family, and we are to remain faithful and loyal to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore, we are told to do good toward everyone, which includes our own families. We are told to do good especially to those who are fellow believers in Christ. After all, isn’t that what Jesus did? He healed many who did not believe in Him. He cast out demons from people who didn’t remain faithful to Him. He washed away the sins of all believers and how do we repay Him for that if we don’t obey His teachings? Therefore, (I just love that word), we are to do good and not harm to all but especially the family of God. That’s what families do. Oh, there will be some who walk away and don’t want our love or our help. There will be those who think that they are treated poorly and want nothing to do with us. There are always those who divorce themselves from the family, whether the family of origin or the family of God. But we don’t have to respond to their unkindness. We can just let them go as the father of the prodigal did (Luke 15). God will deal with the prodigals of this world if we simply let them go. We can, however, always pray for them to return to Jesus. And that is enough.

Until next time…Katherine

Getting Older

I was scrolling on Facebook the other day and saw a cartoon that went something like this: Two old Vikings are sitting at the table preparing their pills for the week and one says to the other, “You know, pillage sure doesn’t mean what it used to!” As I was reading this my phone alarm went off reminding me to take my seven o’clock pills! I laughed but found the cartoon to be a little too true. When I was in my middle years, I was ill and had to take a ton of pills each day just to get well. But after my divorce, I was able to stop taking most of those pills. I only took an allergy pill once a day. A few years after that, I was able to be pill-free for the first time in most of my adulthood. But then I had a bowel blockage and was in the hospital when my heart decided to get out of rhythm and from then on, I had to take a lot more pills. One, in particular, has to be taken once every twelve hours, thus the phone alarm to remind me to take it. Yeah, getting older has its downside, but it has its upside too.

“Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob, all the remnant of the people of Israel, you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:3-4, (New International Version or NIV).

The upside to getting older is that God is older still than me. He has been my God all my days and will be in the future. He never leaves me. Jesus redeemed me which allows me to be adopted into God’s family and so this promise to the descendants of Jacob is for you and me too. The upside is that I am closer to seeing Jesus face-to-face. The upside is that I’m still breathing and can still make an impact for the kingdom. The upside is that I have a lot of memories and a clear conscience, and I don’t mind having grey hair. The upside is that I am living in this century where modern medicine can help me to live life with ease.  There are many upsides but one in particular that is important to me is that I can still extend my love to my family and enjoy my grandchildren. I can’t take my house or my car with me to heaven, but I can bring others by introducing them to Jesus and helping them along their faith journey.

Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness. Proverbs 16:31, (NIV).

The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old. Proverbs 20:29, (NIV).

I have a lot of grey hair as you can see in the photo I used at the beginning of this post. I used to cover the grey with dye, but it was a constant battle and cost a lot to keep it covered. I had to go to the beauty shop every two weeks to keep it looking good as my hair grows fast. One day I just decided to rebel and stop conforming to the world’s ideas. This is when I went grey, and I love it. My hair is healthier than it was before, and I think it looks good on me. God takes care of me even as I age, and I will wear my crown of grey hair with honor. I have lived to be this old when my two siblings didn’t. I have outlived six of my high school classmates too. It is an honor to grow old and one that I wear graciously.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, (NIV).

Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. Proverbs 17:6, (NIV).

One of the perks of getting older is being a grandmother. I love my grandchildren as they remind me that all those years of motherhood were not wasted! They also remind me that love comes in all forms, sizes, and shapes. My newest granddaughter is less than a month old and as I hold her and rock her in my arms, I am reminded of how her mama and aunties looked when they were babies. It brought back so many wonderful memories for me. When my five-year-old granddaughter runs to me and jumps on my lap and hugs me many times I am reminded of my girls and my son as they were her age. They were as bright and shining as she is. And when she leans in and says, “Grandma, I love you.” It melts my heart with joy. And when my eleven-year-old granddaughter goes shopping with me I can’t help but see the past colliding with the future. I see my girls in her and the many times I went shopping with them, but I also see glimpses of my granddaughter as a young woman. She is going to be a knockout! I love my grandchildren and I pray to God asking Him to work in their lives to bring them to Jesus forever and ever, just as I pray the same for my children.

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves. Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court. Psalm 127, (NIV).

My house has always been built on the foundation of Jesus. He is my cornerstone and always will be. My divorce broke up my family, but my side of the house has remained firm. My days of working are over for the most part. My children are adults now and they are building their own house, family, and their own lives. I did the best I knew how to teach my children about life and about Jesus. I continue to remind them that I love them and always will. I am thankful for them and for God who gave them to me. As I look back on the years of my life, I am thankful yet humbled by how many times I can see God moving in the background of my life. He always protected me. He provided for me. And most of all, God never stopped loving me thanks to Jesus my Redeemer, my Savior, and my Shepherd.

This week I turned sixty-nine. For many this age does not seem old, I know. But for me to make it this far in life is a God-thing! There must be a reason that I am still here and that I didn’t die several times over from the various illnesses I have endured. How many years I will be here to enjoy life is all up to God. I just want to say thank you, Lord, for making my birthday special, for giving me breath and life and joy and contentment and love and courage and faith and endurance and perseverance and everything I own and have.

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”— before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim; when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when people rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint; when people are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags itself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then people go to their eternal home and mourners go about the streets. Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:1-7, (NIV).

Until next time, Katherine

There Are All Kinds Of Mothers

The Bible talks a lot about mothers. There are many kinds of mothers mentioned in the Bible, I want to look at a few of them as we celebrate mothers this week. I am a mother, and I am thankful for every one of my children and their families because I know that God blessed me with them. I hope that I have been and will continue to be a blessing to them as well. Let’s begin with what God told Moses about mothers.

For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ Mark 7:10, (New International Version or NIV).

God makes it clear that mothers and fathers are to be honored. What this means is that they are to be respected and cared for as they get older. At least this is how I see it. Love was not commanded and so I don’t think that you have to like your parents, but you do have to honor them and take care of them. Some parents are not loveable, let’s face it. In fact, some parents are downright horrible!

“ ‘Everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this proverb about you: “Like mother, like daughter.” You are a true daughter of your mother, who despised her husband and her children; and you are a true sister of your sisters, who despised their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite. Your older sister was Samaria, who lived to the north of you with her daughters; and your younger sister, who lived to the south of you with her daughters, was Sodom. You not only followed their ways and copied their detestable practices, but in all your ways you soon became more depraved than they. As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, your sister Sodom and her daughters never did what you and your daughters have done. Eziekiel 16:44-48, (NIV).

Isn’t it amazing that one of our sayings, “Like mother, like daughter” is actually from the Bible? In this case the mother was evil and so was the daughter. Like I said, not all mothers are good. Evil mothers have been in every generation and while we honor them for giving us birth, we don’t have to follow in their footsteps and be evil ourselves. But far too often mothers pass down their evil traits to daughters.

When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered. At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” Mark 6:22-25, (NIV).

Herodias was evil and she insisted that her daughter become evil as well. How sad for the daughter. These two people plotted to have John the Baptist beheaded and they got what they wanted. The king should have beheaded them in my opinion. Some of you may have had mothers like Herodias. You don’t have to be like her, you have a choice to live differently, and the Holy Spirit will help you to do so if you belong to Jesus. You can break the cycle of evil within your family by becoming an authentic follower of Jesus.

Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. Romans 16:13, (NIV).

Some mothers are not even your own and yet they have such a profound impact upon your life that you honor them too. The mother of Rufus was just such a woman to the apostle Paul. I love how he honors her in this greeting section of his letter to the Romans. I want to be that kind of mother too.

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. John 19:25, (NIV).

Many mothers are there for you when you go through hard times. They hurt with you, cry for you, and pray constantly for you when you face insurmountable situations. Jesus had such a mother and she had to witness the death of her son.

Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. Matthew 27:56, (NIV).

Mothers don’t let other mothers suffer alone. There were other mothers helping to comfort and support Jesus’s mother Mary. We often need the help, advice, and comfort from women who have been through difficult circumstances with their children. It helps to hear other mother’s perspectives and advice. Mostly, though, it is them just being there with you that helps the most, no words necessary at such times.

Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died. Esther 2:7, (NIV).

And then there are mothers who have become mothers through adoption. I am one of those mothers and I love my son as if I had given birth to him. I rarely think of him as being adopted because he is all mine! Esther had such a mother and father in her cousin Mordecai and his nameless wife. I know many mothers who have adopted children and what a blessing it is for moms and kiddos alike. You are a mom and you have done your best and the rest you leave up to God.

Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy the truth and do not sell it—wisdom, instruction and insight as well. The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful! Proverbs 23:22-25, (NIV).

In my years on this earth, I have seen children who did not bring joy and rejoicing into their parents’ hearts. The child seemed bent on self-destruction. Sin takes over and the parents must witness much of it. It is heartbreaking to witness such circumstances. It is far better when a child listens to King Solomon’s advice and purchases truth. It costs something to have truth and wisdom. It may cost friendships or romances or even marriage partners. But in the end, it is far better to be separated from those bent on sinning than to live with them. Be wise instead.

In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. 1 Samuel 1:10-13, (NIV).

Hannah prayed for years to have a child, specifically a son. God finally heard her prayer and opened her womb to be able to carry a child. She didn’t get to see him but once or twice a year because of the promise she made to God concerning him. That is courage and persistence.

If you are a mom of biological children, congratulations. If you are a mom through adoption, congratulations. If you are a stepmom or a bonus mom, congratulations. If you are a mom through borrowing someone else’s children for a day or two, congratulations. If you wish to be a mom, hang in there. Just know that you are thought of and honored this week of Mother’s Day.

Until next time, Katherine

A Special Tribute

 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12, (New International Version or NIV).                 

One hundred years ago my father was born into this world on May 3, 1924. He was the second of six boys to be born into the Parks family and he loved every one of his brothers too. My dad was a kind and gentle man, soft spoken, and a very hard worker. He loved my mother completely and he loved all three of their children and I am the youngest.

Dad had a very hard life when we compare it to today. His mother died when he was eleven years old. He told me how some of the extended family came to the house where his mother was dying and wanted to take all the children to their home so that they didn’t witness her death. In those days, most people died at home and not in a hospital like today. He refused to leave and went and hid in the barn where they couldn’t find him. Finally, his dad said to let him stay if he was that determined. After the other children had gone, he snuck out of his hiding place and went to his parent’s bedroom window and stood under it peeking in to see what was happening. One of his relatives, I think it was his grandfather, saw him and told him to come inside and he did. He was by his mother’s side when she passed away. I know that this was an extremely impactful trauma for him, but I am thankful that he was there for it gave him much comfort throughout his lifetime.

After the funeral, he remembered how his aunts all came into his home and began taking away many of the beautiful things that his mother had. They took away handmade quilts, her good dishes, her music, and other personal items. My dad thought that was a terrible thing to do. But in truth, his father fell apart. He started drinking even though it was during prohibition.  He couldn’t cope with the loss of his beloved wife, and he lost his farm in the process. The relatives were not pleased with how the boys were all being neglected. In fact, they had a family meeting and decided that it would be best for the boys to be placed in Father Flanagan’s home for boys that was located in Omaha. Most of them knew Father Flanagan personally as he had been their Catholic priest at some point. His dad put his foot down and said absolutely not going to happen! So, the family told him to get his life together and start taking better care of his children.

During this time, my dad told me of many instances when he and his brothers were playing with their numerous cousins, they would go to one of the aunts’ houses where she had just made freshly baked cookies. She would give each child a cookie except for the Parks boys. She would tell them that they needed to tell their dad to straighten up and live right! This was very hurtful to my dad, and he never forgot this either. It impacted him in adult life for the good, though, as he never turned away anyone who needed a little help.

After a year or so, his dad brought home a new wife and she had a little girl. Imagine that poor girl being raised with all those boys! After my dad passed away, this girl called my mom to give her condolences. She told my mom how she always thought of my dad as the gentle giant. She said that when the other boys would be picking on her and teasing her, she would run into my dad’s arms and his big hands would wrap around her and protect her from the others. She said that he was her hero too. He was so much older than her and larger in size that she thought of him as a gentle giant! I love that!!

At age thirteen my dad finished the eighth grade and graduated. He was a good student. He loved poetry and his favorite poem was The Village Blacksmith by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He had it memorized. He also loved The Charge of The Light Brigade by Alfred Lord Tennyson. He had most of that one memorized too. I have a book of family poems that he used to read to us when we were young. It is worn with his reading it through the years. He also loved music. His mother was a classical pianist and would play duets with her brother who played the violin. Their mother was a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. When she passed away her brother put down his violin and never played it again. In later years my dad bought the violin and now it belongs to my granddaughters who also play the violin. I never knew that my dad loved classical music until my middle child was in college. There were foreign students at our house and asked to play the piano to practice for an upcoming recital and I said yes. One of them was playing beautiful classical music and my dad said that he had never heard any in person since his mom had died. He certainly enjoyed listening to the girl practice.

After graduating from eighth grade, he did what a lot of boys did in his era, he got full-time work rather than attending high school.  He didn’t like his stepmom and so he left his part-time job at the livery stable and began his career as a harvester. He became a part of a crew that went from Oklahoma through the midwestern states to the Canadian border and then back to Oklahoma. If you have ever seen the movie Of Mice and Men you will see the type of work that my dad did. Machinery was limited and nearly everything was done by hand and manpower.  After working for the harvesters for a few years, he decided to try something else and traveled to western Nebraska from his home in eastern Nebraska. He got as far as his money would take him and landed in Angora, Nebraska. A farmer who had a large operation was looking for a good strong young man to work for him and my dad was hired.

It just so happens that shortly after my mother was hired to be a mother’s helper. We don’t have such an occupation these days, but a hundred years ago mothers needed help to get all their chores done and still had time to meet their family’s needs. Her job was to help do the washing without a modern machine, hang the clothes on the clothesline to dry, no dryers then, iron because nearly all clothing was made of cotton, babysit, wash many diapers and hang them on the line, help cook the meals and wash all the dishes afterward, clean and scrub the floors, help in the garden in the summertime, help preserve the garden produce in the fall, take care of the farm animals such as chickens, ducks, and milk cows, and anything else that was needed. It was a lot of work when a mom had three or more children to tend to and so my mom, being a young woman not yet eighteen years old, it was a good job. And this is where my parents met!

 Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. Psalm 127:3-5, (NIV).

A family grew and my dad was a good father. He was fair, more fair than my mom sometimes. He was always working hard to support us. He also taught us all many good things. He taught us to be honest and full of integrity. He taught us to love and appreciate nature and life. He taught us that family is important and that we need them, and they need us. He taught us to love our mother and respect her for who she was. He taught us that you don’t need a lot of money to be happy, but you do need to use what God gives you wisely. He taught us that loving Jesus is the only way to live life in the best way. He taught us to share what we had with those who needed it, whether it was our time, money, groceries, or love. He was such a good man.

A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous. Proverbs 13:22, (NIV).

Dad left us a little money as an inheritance. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to know we were loved. What he left us that was much more precious than money or possessions was a legacy of being the best. Be the best one to show love to the downtrodden. Be the best to share your worldly possessions. Be the best to love your family. Be the best to work hard as if you are working for Jesus. Be the best at attending church and participating.  Be the best at seeing the opportunities to lend a helping hand. Be the best neighbor. But most of all, be the best parent and grandparent. Life changes so quickly. My parents buried two of their three children. They helped so many others who had lost their children to death. They knew their pain and they knew what to say and when to say it. The legacy of a lifetime is what is the most important.

I’m glad you are with Jesus now, Dad to celebrate your 100^th birthday.

Until next time…Katherine

As Little Children

I love my granddaughters, they are so special to me, just as special as their mama was when she was growing up. All my children are special to me, but there is something about grandchildren that reminds me that having kids was all worth it! My grandchildren think of me differently than they do their parents. They know that Grandma will listen to them because I have time to do so. They know that grandma will let them run around and make a lot of noise (something I never allowed my children to do). They have fun at grandma’s even if it is just watching some old VHS movies! Grandma has old stuff that is cool, don’t ya know! I make them do things that their parents insist on, such as practicing the piano and violins, and they don’t usually want to, but do it for grandma! Yes, grandchildren are great fun. And number three arrives in early May! I can’t wait to snuggle her too.

I have many memories with my children as they were growing up. They were such good kids. I was a mediocre mom, I think. I was so easily frustrated by life changes in those days. We moved constantly and all the planning and doing fell mostly to me. Getting the children enrolled in new schools every year or two was never fun for me. I would have much preferred that we lived in the same community through their growing-up years. But that did not happen. As I have aged, I have become less frustrated, and I hardly ever yell at anyone anymore! My older children can’t believe that their little brother has a better relationship with their mom than they did. But then again, I am older, and he has been raised as an only child. I think that makes a big difference. I remember the first time he tried to say something he had done wasn’t done by him. I told him that there were only two people living in the house and I was one and knew for certain that I had not done it. He thought for a moment and then resigned himself to telling the truth. From then on, he never tried to lie his way out of something. When three children are in the home, there is always someone else to blame for your bad actions! It took a lot more of my time figuring out who did it and why! And I am sure that sometimes they got away with not being caught too. But my children are all ones to be proud of and I am forever thankful to have been their mom.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. Matthew 18:1-5, (New International Version or NIV).

Can you imagine grown men arguing about who is the greatest among them and who would be the greatest in heaven? I can. I find that many men want to one-up each other. It reminds me of when I was a kid and heard boys from my elementary school arguing about whose dad could beat up your dad. I listened and then entered the conversation and told them that my dad could beat all of theirs. My dad was tough and strong, and they had seen him and knew that I might just have a point! My dad was kind and not a fighter at all, but those boys didn’t know that! Well, I am sure that Jesus was not all that pleased when hearing them argue.  

Jesus called a small child over to him. Maybe it was one of those men’s own children, or just a child from the crowd that seemed to always follow Jesus around. A little child was used as an object lesson by Jesus to the twelve disciples. What a way to settle the argument. Basically, Jesus says that none of you will be the greatest unless you take the lowest position which in their culture was a child. Did they get the point? Jesus went a step further.

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! Matthew 18:6-7, (NIV).

When I read this passage, I can’t help but think of the children who are abused, neglected, abandoned, and sex trafficked. I am thankful that there will be consequences for causing a little one to stumble. I think of the many children and teen suicides that take place each year. So many are because of bullying. Consequences may not happen in this lifetime, but it is comforting to know that there will be in eternity.  Jesus has just used a small child to show that a servant of Him will think of themselves as a little child. This is not to say that we are to act like children. He is using a place in society to show how lowly and humble we are to be.

Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” Luke 17:1-4, (NIV).

In Luke we see this thought go further as Jesus explains how important it is to not be a stumbling block to a fellow Christian. I think of how I may have become a stumbling block to someone else, especially a new Christian. It may have been a word harshly spoken or stealing someone’s joy that caused them to give up and forget about following Jesus. Or perhaps I was too judgmental about how they looked or dressed. I hope I am not guilty of crushing another’s faith in Jesus. I try not to. I certainly don’t want a millstone hung around my neck for all eternity. This is why forgiveness is so important. To forgive things that hurt us and may even harm us is not a human endeavor alone. Jesus must be with us to help us work through the trauma and come to a place of being capable to forgive. But forgive we must, as this passage makes that very clear.

I find that little children are the most forgiving people on earth. I think it is because they have such trust in us that we would never think of harming them. My five-year-old granddaughter once came up on my lap and said that her sister and uncle were playing together but had hurt her feelings. We talked about it, and I found out that she was feeling left out of their play. Soon we were confronting her big sister and uncle. They immediately told her that they didn’t mean to hurt her feelings. She gave each of them a big hug and said that she forgave them and soon all three were busy playing together once more. If the hurt caused by others was that easy to forgive, life would be easier. It amazes me how quickly children can forgive each other in such circumstances. This is a good lesson for grownups too. Our lack of forgiveness can cause someone to stop living for Jesus. So, we must be careful in our actions and words toward fellow Christians.

If you have little ones around you, hug them often and let them know that you love them. But also let them know about Jesus and how He loves them and how God wants them to be followers of Jesus when they grow up. It is the best way to not be their stumbling block toward Jesus.

Until next time…Katherine

A Time Before Cell Phones

I marvel at some of our technology these days. Gone are the days of prank calls on the telephone like I did as a kid. Oh, yes, I pranked called too. My brother and I thought it great fun to dial random numbers and then ask the person who answered if their refrigerator was running. When they said yes, or that they thought it was, we would tell them to go and chase it and get it back home! We would hang up quickly and then laugh and laugh, thinking that we were so funny! But one phone call that we made got us to stop that prank forever. We dialed the random number as usual and a grumpy, sleepy man answered. When our little prank was over, he cursed at us and told us that he was the cop, had been up all night, and didn’t appreciate being woken up for such nonsense. He then told us that if he ever found out who we were, he would make us do community service and pay a hefty fine! We recognized his voice as he was a friend of our parents and lived a block from our house! Yeah! We never pulled that prank again.

Back in the day, there was no such thing as caller ID so you could get away with pranking people on the telephone. I used to get a lot of prank calls, well actually they were obscene phone calls, when I was a young mother. I confiscated my daughter’s large whistle and put it next to the phone. When one of these jerks would call, I would blow the whistle as loud as I could in the receiver of the telephone, and they hung up!

Before Apps, cell phones, landlines, computers, newspapers, books, and letters, there was something called a scroll. David wrote a scroll for his sons to remind them that life was short and unpredictable, so live it well, the way that God desires each of us to do. I love to read Proverbs and think of it as the fortune cookies of the Bible. Each line has its own separate thought from the next one. Sometimes they are connected thoughts and sometimes they are just random.  I Invision a scribe sitting at a disk on the side of the throne room with King Solomon sitting on the throne. There is a moment of solitude and Solomon has a thought that he tells the scribe to write down.

My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Proverbs 3:1-2, (New International Version or NIV).

Perhaps King Solomon was weary of the entertainment of the day. Perhaps he was worried about the path some of his sons were taking. Or perhaps he was just reviewing his own life and seeing the mistakes he made along the way. Whatever prompted him to write this particular proverb we will never know, other than a scroll of teachings for his sons.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Proverbs 3:3-4, (NIV).

Some people through the centuries have taken this proverb literally and actually wore these teachings around their necks. Today, I see a lot of people who tattoo their favorite scripture on their bodies. I think that they are missing the point. The message here is to memorize the teachings of God and use them in your arsenal against Satan and his minions. Having the Bible on a scroll, in book form, or on your phone in an app does no good unless you read it, meditate on it, and memorize the essence of what you are learning.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6, (NIV).

What is Solomon saying here? I think it is very profound. Our way of thinking is tainted by sin. The decisions we make, our choices, and so forth, will lead us into sin if we don’t have God’s word planted in our minds and follow it. Our own understanding of life is not accurate, but God’s understanding is. If we understand this monumental principle then we will talk every decision over with God, or at least be guided by His purpose for us.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Proverbs 3:7-8, (NIV).

It is so easy, especially for rich kids like Solomon’s sons, to think that we know it all. There are a ton of people these days, me included, that blog, do TikTok, YouTube, or some other platform that think they are experts and know it all. I hope you do not get that vibe from me, because I certainly don’t know everything. I struggle understanding some of the posts that I write. I often read them and think to myself, wow! It must have been God directing the ideas.  Stay humble is the message here.

Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10, (NIV).

Solomon was the richest guy ever; it was easy for him to find “first fruits” to give back to God. Well, think of it this way, he didn’t have a cell phone, or a telephone, or computer, or even a radio. You probably have these things. My point is that you are richer than you think, and God asks that you share some with Him, after all, He gave all that you have to you.

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Proverbs 3:11-12, (NIV).

I feel uncomfortable with this proverb because I don’t like to be disciplined. But God has our best interest at heart, and sometimes we are at odds with the way God wants things done. He is greater than we are, and He will discipline us. But, if we take this discipline as a learning opportunity rather than a punishment, we will be the better for it.

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. Proverbs 3:13-14, (NIV).

We are a blessed people when we seek God’s way of living. We find wisdom and understanding which is certainly profitable to us. I hope that you are seeking God’s way of life. Remember that His law teaches us right from wrong.

Until next time…Katherine

Through All The Generations, Not Just Some

I just wrote a novel a few years ago about generations from a family tree. I think that it is so fascinating and mind-blowing how we go from generation to generation. We think that things change, but honestly, other than technology, not much has changed. People still need to work to eat. People still get married and have the next generation to raise. People still eat, sleep, and do all the normal things that we do. The way of doing things may change, such as indoor vs. outdoor toilets, but we all still go! Right?

May he endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations. May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth. In his days may the righteous flourish and prosperity abound till the moon is no more. Psalm 72:5-7, (New International Version or NIV).

God created time as well as everything else. We are locked into time as we can’t live forever, but God is not limited by time. Think of it this way, you made the cookies, so you are in control of when they are eaten, they are not in control of when that will be.

It blows my mind to think that when my great-great-grandmother was trudging through the snow in Iowa back in the 1850s and wondering if she would make it home, God was there. When my uncles were fighting in WW II and wondering if they would make it home alive, God was there. When the first cannon was fired in any war, God was there. He watches over world events and shapes them to where He chooses them to go. Who lives, who dies, who is born, who isn’t…all of that is under God’s supervision.

 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth. Deuteronomy 12:18-21, (NIV).

When Moses received the second set of tablets from God, a promise was made to all generations. And how long ago was that? How many generations since then have passed? Yet, here we are, the children of God, and the promise continues as long as we are faithful. And this makes me awestruck at the faithfulness of God to all generations, doesn’t it you? There may be a lot of fighting going on in the Middle East, but Israel still exists and has been brought back to her country.

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.” Luke 1:46-55, (NIV).

Mary, the mother of Jesus, understood that God is faithful to all generations. He is the one who brings down rulers, who makes us humble, who blesses those who love Him and seek after Him, and who loves Jesus. Do you realize that you are living in a blessed time, a blessed generation? If you love Jesus and glorify God, then you are very blessed indeed. Mary understood that God keeps His promises to the faithful. I love that! I count on that! I place my hope in that! Don’t you?

See, I will stir up against them the Medes, who do not care for silver and have no delight in gold. Their bows will strike down the young men; they will have no mercy on infants, nor will they look with compassion on children. Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the pride and glory of the Babylonians, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. She will never be inhabited or lived in through all generations; there no nomads will pitch their tents, there no shepherds will rest their flocks. But desert creatures will lie there, jackals will fill her houses; there the owls will dwell, and there the wild goats will leap about. Hyenas will inhabit her strongholds, jackals her luxurious palaces. Her time is at hand, and her days will not be prolonged. Isaiah 13:17-22, (NIV).

It isn’t just the beautiful and positive promises that God keeps. He also keeps the promises made to those who reject Him, mock Him, and hate Him.  The remains of the city are in present-day Hillah, Babil Governorate, Iraq, about 85 km (53 mi) south of Baghdad, and its boundaries have been based on the perimeter of the ancient outer city walls, an area of about 1,054.3 hectares (2,605 acres).^[6] They comprise a large tell of broken mud-brick buildings and debris. Babylon – Wikipedia Now, do you see how this promise has been kept? This is something I have a hard time fathoming with my limited in time brain.  When God destroys something, it doesn’t return to a tropical paradise. We all should take warning about that and lift up our voices in unison to praise our Creator. We must not lose sight of the promises of God for those who do not listen to Him. All these generations later, Babylon is still a ghost town.

My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old—things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. They would not be like their ancestors—a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him. Psalm 78:1-8, (NIV).

I just couldn’t end this post on a negative note. So, I found this passage from Psalms which brings comfort to me, and I hope to you too. When we hear God and listen to His teaching, and teach it to the next generations, our children and grandchildren, then we have done a great thing. We have put our trust in God, through the blood of Jesus we will be saved on that evil day that is yet to come. Let’s not be stubborn or rebellious but give our hearts completely to Jesus and show God’s love to all. What a great generational thing to do.

Until next time…Katherine

Single Dads

The one thing that I often forget is that there are more and more single dads raising their children. Because I have never known any custodial dads who spent their time rearing their children, I forget that fact! I do apologize to the dads out there who struggle with being a single parent. Regardless of whether you are a mom or dad, single parenting is often difficult. I was trying to think of an example from the Bible and I finally settled on Hosea.

The word of the Lord that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel: When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.” So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. Hosea 1:1-3, (New International Version or NIV).

I have written before about the crappy marriage that Hosea was called into. Some of us can relate to this, I am sure. For God to tell Hosea to marry a certain type of woman is rather shocking to me. But, Hosea, being a faithful man of God found the promiscuous woman and married her. As expected in those days, she became pregnant, and a son was born. Gomer had a reputation for sleeping around and we know that because Hosea married her. What happens next, I wonder.

Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call her Lo-Ruhamah (which means “not loved”), for I will no longer show love to Israel, that I should at all forgive them. Yet I will show love to Judah; and I will save them—not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but I, the Lord their God, will save them.” After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, Gomer had another son. Then the Lord said, “Call him Lo-Ammi (which means “not my people”), for you are not my people, and I am not your God. Hosea 1:6-9, (NIV).

Hosea’s wife, Gomer, keeps having children, three so far, two boys and a girl. She seems to be a good wife, but I suspect that motherhood and the demands on her were something she was beginning to dislike. She leaves her husband and goes to do her own thing!

The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.” So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley. Then I told her, “You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will behave the same way toward you.” Hosea 2:1-3, (NIV).

He goes in search of his philandering wife and finds her in the situation that God had told him she would be in. He gets her to come home but has some conditions for her to live up to. She is to stop being a prostitute and sleeping with other men. Will she listen? We don’t honestly know because the Bible doesn’t tell us, but I think that she reconciled to her husband and remained with him. We are unaware of how many years had passed, but it is obvious from what is written that Gomer was fairly busy being a prostitute and then fell into living with those who would take care of her. The price of obtaining her is interesting.  Hosea took money and barley with him when he was searching for her. She was still valuable to someone or otherwise, he wouldn’t have had to purchase her or pay some kind of compensation to get her back.  Here is what Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers has to say about the price paid for Gomer.

From 2Kings 7:1 we may infer that an ephah of barley at ordinary times would cost one shekel (comp. Amos 8:5), and since a homer contains ten ephahs, the price paid by the prophet was thirty shekels altogether. Reckoning a shekel as = two drachms (so LXX.), or 2s. 6 d., the price paid by Hosea was about £3 15s. According to Exodus 21:32, this was the compensation enacted for a slave gored to death by a bull, and is a hint of the degradation to which Gomer had sunk. Hosea 3:2 Commentaries: So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a half of barley. (biblehub.com) Three pounds fifteen shillings is about four American dollars in today’s money. Wow! A cup of coffee would cost more than that in most coffee shops!

Can some of you guys relate to Hosea’s experience with marriage? Have you been struggling to raise your children without their mom living in the home? I don’t know for certain, but I would think that this type of marriage would have been an exception rather than the norm. For her to leave her husband and three children, she must have been rather strong-willed and determined to get her own way. Hosea, however, did promise her that if she treated him well, then he would treat her well.  Does that mean that the children are already grown to adulthood? I guess we will never know.

There are more and more moms leaving marriages and children behind than ever before. Some leave to pursue careers while others pursue new relationships. Thankfully, the men step up and raise their kids.  I found this information on the internet concerning single dads.

• There are 2 million single fathers in the United States.
• 17% of all single-parent households are single fathers.
• The breakdown of single fathers: 44% divorced, 33% never married, 19% separated, 4.2% widowed.
• Nearly 52% of Single Dads are either separated, divorced, widowed or never married.  43 Fatherhood Statistics Trends & Analysis – Parents Plus Kids

I am rather surprised at the numbers here, aren’t you? There are many divorced dads out there raising their children and I think we need to acknowledge them! Good job, dads!

If you are a reader of this blog and a single dad raising your children alone, I just want to say that I am glad you are there for your children. It is not easy for women to be parenting without a dad. I can only imagine how much more difficult it is for fathers. Thank you for teaching your children about the good things in life. Things like love, harmony, Jesus, and how to love an absent parent or understand one who is there only sometimes. Brokenness comes in both categories, men and women and that is super hard for children to understand.

For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or household gods. Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days. Hosea 3:4-5, (NIV).

The story of Hosea was representative of rebellious people and the God who loves them. God knows the ending of the story. He knows that Israel will come back and be faithful to him again. They will leave the idols and false gods behind and tremble at the power of the Almighty One and true God. They will receive His blessings once more.  Some broken families are blessed with such a reunion, but many are left unchanged. God has helped me being a single mom and so I have no doubt that God will help you single dads too if you lean on His wisdom and love.

If you know a single dad, let him know that you are praying for him and his family. It is always a struggle to raise children. Let him know that he is loved and appreciated by his church family. We all need that reassurance from time to time.

Until next time…Katherine