Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

Hopes and dreams of all the years

Thursday, December 22, 2016

1 Samuel 1:26-28
Hannah approached Eli with Samuel and said, "Pardon, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood near you, praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted my request. Now I, in turn, give him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the Lord."

Oh, the hopes we have for our children, and the dreams we have for our children's children!

Whither will they go, and from whence shall they come? And on what grounds can we claim their greatness? My mother considered the presidency a noble goal for me, or becoming a surgeon and saving peoples' lives. We knew either Chris or Marc or Andi could/would find success, raise families, follow their dreams, build great cities, and surely be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.

Hannah kept it simple for Samuel. She spoke for him, and she spoke into his life. "As long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the Lord."

We'll be seeing little guy Miles, Andi and Aki's new baby just six weeks old, on Christmas Day in Austin. His dimples seem to be getting deeper every day.

And Jack and Aly Sandel, now nearly 8 and 4 ½ years old, spent the night with us this week. This is an unusual occurrence, one for which we over prepare and are overjoyed to experience. Our thoughts about their future are sharpening as we get to know them better month by month. As they get to know themselves better.

Their silences are as pregnant with meaning, and questions, as their words. Where is Jack? Where is Aly? In every case they are doing something that captured their attention. They forgot those important social graces because they were caught up in fascination somewhere. Who cares where?

Why do kids have trouble catching up with themselves, cleaning up before they start something new? Well ... because there is something new! Let's do that now. No, let's do this! Their eyes flit here and there, and a thousand possibilities fill their heads. Visions of sugarplums are supplanted by thoughts of chocolate. How about a banana split? We have all the fixings!

So ... what? What doesn't change? What stays solid and always in the center? As play becomes study becomes work becomes career becomes retirement, what doesn't move? Of course we know. "As long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the Lord."

So before each meal/snack, we hold hands and pray. Aly prays. Or Jack prays. Or Margaret prays. Or I pray. Everybody gets to play. And then, at the end of the day, we answer one question, sometimes spoken. What was good today? And then, at least sometimes, what was not so good today? That, as the Linns so beautifully characterize it, is our "heart-bread."

The "tummy-bread" is quickly gone, but that heart-bread ... is simply and always "his promise of mercy, the promise God made to our fathers, to Abraham and all his children forever."

Like the stars in the sky.

Oh Lord we proclaim your greatness, along with Mary. Our spirits rejoice in God our savior, for you have looked upon your lowly servants and have mercy on us. Show us the strength of your arm, our Father, and fill the hungry with all good things. Thank you, Lord.

Devotions Archive

Hopes and dreams of all the years

Thursday, December 22, 2016