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Family's praise togetherFriday, March 27, 2015
Psalm 18:1-3 "Oh, gosh, what a great bubble. It's huge! Look at the rainbow in the bubble!" But Aly looked at me, not the bubble. "You can't say that, Grandpa. G-O-S-H. If you say that ..." she thought a moment. Her eyes turned to the left (that's the way they turn when you're accessing your imagination rather than your memory). "If you say that, then God will ..." She thought. "God will make you take a time out." "Oh, my goodness!" That's a better way to say it. But what I really like instead is "Holy mackerel!" And Aly said that would be OK. She smiled. "Holy mackerel!" she said. No lightning. No frowns from the Father. No time outs. Every night Chris, Melissa, Jack and Aly settle on a couch together in their living room and read a short bible story. Then they pray. They decide each night who will be first, and then they each thank God for something and ask God for something. And they say amen. God is honored. Together they are learning the art of pausing and developing their own lexicon of praise. And they are working the day-by-day family program of being in the world, but not of the world. Jesus, you are our joy and our salvation, and we praise you. Save us from ourselves and other enemies, and let us climb high into your presence, our high tower, so we can see the world the way you want us to. And when we're up there, Lord, open our eyes. |
Aly and Margaret and I were blowing bubbles, and Aly stopped me cold. "Don't say that!" I should have known better, because Jack has also stopped me several times over the years (Jack is six, and nearly 39 months older than Aly, which is about 1,170 days. He is a wise young man.)