"A Father In The Night"

A few nights ago, my oldest son Brayden, had a rough night.  He was very frustrated and seemed to make every attempt to let his parents and brothers know just how upset he was. As the evening progressed he got very angry with me and at my attempts to correct him. Ofhis own choosing, he went to bed earlier than normal obviously hurt and very angry. 

In the night, Brayden had a bad dream.  He came to my bedside and woke me, telling me of his nightmare.  He asked if I would come into his room with him until he fell back to sleep.  Without even thinking about it, I jumped right up and went to his bedside, eager to comfort my son.  I put my arms around Brayden and held him tight, quietly speaking to him.  I let him know I was right there with him and that everything would be okay.  Within moments, peace and sleep overtook him and he rested well for the rest of the night.

As I held my son I thought of the great love of our Heavenly Father towards us, His children.   We get frustrated in life.  We experience feelings of anger.  Sometimes, out of our hurt, we hurt others.  Sometimes we even yell at God.  But in our darkest of nights, when we are afraid and feeling alone, we can turn to Father God and we find that He is there.  His love for us remains the same.  He holds us securely in his arms and reassures us of his continued faithful presence.

I am glad to know that my son knew he could come to me, no matter what had happened prior to his fear.  He knew that I would be there for him.  He knew that I would not turn him away.  He knew that I would receive him.  He knew that I would respond to his need.  He knew that I would remain with him.  He knew my love had not changed!

I am so thankful that our Heavenly Father is more dependable for us, His children even greater than I could ever be for my own sons.  God is there for us in our darkest of nights.  No matter what we have done, or what has transpired in our relationship with Him, he remains the same loving Father.  Maybe you need to be reminded of this truth today.  Maybe someone around you needs to hear this truth. 

"Be still and know that I am God……"  Psalm 46:10a

ACTIVITY FOR THE WEEK

     Have a 'camp out' on the living room floor together as father and son(s) 

"Teaching My Boys To Do The Backfloat"

"Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord is my strength and my song; He also has become my salvation."  Isaiah 12:2


A few weeks ago the boys and I went swimming.  We had a wonderful time ast hey showed me all of the new things that they are learning to do in the water.  My two younger boys have not yet learned how to do the back float so I decided it was time that they learn how.  Chandler is my youngest son at six years old and he laid right back into my arms with very little coaching.  he was afraid at first I could tell, but as I gently spoke instructions to him, I could feel him relaxing.  He eventually kept his head above water and floated!


Dawson is eight years old and is my middle son.  He struggled much more than Chandler for some reason.  I tried to encourage him as I gave him the same instructions as I had given to his younger brother.  Yet despite all of my attempts to put Dawson at ease, he just had a really difficult time of relaxing.  Fear seemed to overtake him and he just couldn't trust me. 


As I calmly assured them that I would hold them up, and not let them go, it was almost as if I cold hear my Heavenly Father speaking those same words directly to me.  "Trust me!  Relax, I am holding you!  I will not let you go, it will be okay.  Just lay back and trust me."  Man did I need to hear those words!  Maybe you do also.


One son chose to trust and the result was far greater than he had ever anticipated.  My other son struggled to relax in the trustworthy hands of his father.  Which would I be?  Would I dependantly relax into my father's arms or would I struggle to keep myself upright?  To be in control?  I know God spoke to me that day.  I have a choice.  So do you!  Let's not doubt that our Father in heaven is able to keep us afloat even when we feel vulnerable and anxious.   Why not trust in the faithfulness of our Father to hold us up with His might arms. 


Take a minute and reread our verse of scripture again.  This time read it together as father and son.  Talk together about the reality that our Father God is completely trustworthy!  (BTW, from this fathers heart, there was NO WAY that I was goin to let my sons be destroyed!)  Our Father loves us with a great love! 




ACTIVITY FOR THE WEEK


   Go swimming together as father and son(s).

"Putting Jesus In The Attic"

                                            
                                       

This year's outdoor nativity set was different than the previous years for us at the Lee home.  Something was wrong with the electrical cords for Mary and Joseph so only baby Jesus "lit up".    Although the set didn't work like it was supposed to I tried to make something positive and spiritual out of the situation telling the boys that this was the way these outdoor sets should be anyway as only Jesus is the "light of the world".  Okay, so maybe that is a bit of a stretch to justify the bad wiring, but hey, it seemed to work.

A few days after Christmas I put Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus away in the attack of the garage for another year and something just did not seem right about it.  There is something inside me that feels very sac-religious and almost hypocritical each year when I hide Jesus away again.  This year I began to think about the reality of putting away the "lit Jesus".  Somehow it seemed that there was a lesson to be found in what I was doing.

Interesting that every year around Christmastime most of the world thinks about Jesus more than most any other time of the year.  Typically empty churces are often filled on the weekend before Christmas and most certainly on Christmas Eve.  Billboards and signs that normally promote the things of this world now host messages about the Savior of the world.   All of this amazes me but it is people, their kind deeds, and generosity in the name of the Lord that impresses me the most.  I can't help but to think, what if 'Jesus shined' like this year round. 

And then I remember that He does shine year round.  He shines through his people all of the time.  Well at least he should.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16 "Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; nor does it give light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light shine before men, that they SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

I shared this scripture with my three boys.  It was a great reminder to us that although I put away the nativity for another year, Jesus will continue to SHINE through his people throughout 2012.  Suddenly I didn't feel so bad for putting Jesus away in the attic one more time.  The truth is, His light still shines.  He shines through our kindness.  He shines through our words and deeds.  He shines through our love for each other.  So today I challenge you both father and son, to let your light SHINE! 


ACTIVITY FOR THE WEEK


Do a good deed together as father and son(s).