Sometimes I think I should have titled this memorandum “Confessions of an Ideal Home”. Only those who don’t live here could possibly labor under that delusion.
Interestingly, I happened to read James this morning, followed by Joel and Micah, and a bit in Numbers. I found some remarkable correlations between James 4 and Numbers 14. “You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” And in Numbers, God becomes frustrated with Israel and tells Moses He is going to destroy them and make Moses into a great nation. Moses immediately intercedes, reminding God that to do so would bring reproach and His name. And God relents. Moses was certainly not asking from wrong or selfish motives—God had offered to make him a great nation. Instead He asked what was pleasing to God, that God be glorified. This should be our goal and attitude in everything we desire. If this is our attitude, our quarrels will cease.
During a break from the above, a heaven-sent peace settled over our home. Papa came home from work wreathed in smiles, we ate supper together in pleasantness. Afterwards he asked, “What shall we do together tonight? Watch something? Sing?” We all gathered in his room to watch a Day of Discovery, which turned out to be a precious testimony of a man whose wife recently died after twenty-five years of Alzeihmer’s. The challenge he gave was priceless. Afterwards, Papa turned on the Irish Christmas CD and we all danced until we were tired. Which means, sadly, only a couple of songs.
I can still feel his arms around me as he enveloped me in a bear hug and said, “I love you, Baby.”
If every girl in the world could feel that same comfort half as often as I do, it would decrease the world’s striving and quarrelling exponentially. And if every girl could read God’s word and discover His truth for herself, the change would be outstanding.
I am privileged. How dare I complain, quarrel or fight.
Lord, when I lose sight of eternity
Thou bringest reality to me.
Gazing in Thy truthful mirror
Thy purpose and Thy plan grows clear.
And as Thy plan doth pass each test
I see again Thy ways are best.
Thou numbers all my life-song’s days
And teaches me to sing Thy praise.
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