Belligerent Buttons

I think that the makers of some childrens clothes should be smacked with a wet lasagna noodle. Enough to make the point, but not enough to really hurt or cause damage.

This morning, I watched AGAIN as my two boys attempted to button their shorts before school. they are at the age when they really don't want any help, but need just a little. If I try to step in and do any of it, they turn away and get defiant about doing it themselves.

However, these particular shorts, both of the same brand, have a button-hole that is just barely bigger than the button that must pass through it. I'll be the first to admit thay my children are highly gifted and advanced in their fine motor skills (don't all parents say that?), but even I think this particular button is difficult. I even spent a few minutes cutting the hole bigger last night before laying the clothes out for the boys!

Basically, what ends up happening is that I see the boys having trouble, and they OBVIOUSLY need a little bit of help. So I try delicately to reach in, only to get pushed away or fussed out for helping. I try to reason with them about how much they really need the help, only to get shot down again. Finally, because I do eventually want to get them out of the room, I force my help on them, and just button the stinking shorts myself. Not necessarily my finest hour as a daddy, but I didn't yell or hit them, just upset them a bit.

Look out! It's a spiritual application on the way!

Ever notice how people just need help, but don't seem to know it? Maybe they are depressed or down or just seem to have no focus or direction. What about the ones that would really benefit from understanding that there is a God who loves them just the way they are, and wants to come and begin the process of bringing healing and peace to their life?

We know these people, and we see them around us, and as much as it frustrates us that they won't just open up to God's love, it's not like that button. We simply can NOT force this issue. We just stand by, patiently waiting, letting them know we're there to offer some help, and when they are finally open to it, we step in and bring God's love with us.

It's not always a guaranteed fix. Some people still reject the help we offer, even when they've invited our help. That is just the way it goes. But, we pray for them, and we wait patiently. Just like my boys who will eventually quit having trouble with those crazy buttons, some people will finally just quit fighting and learn how to give it over to God and to allow His love into their lives.

Meanwhile, I'm considering a petition to all children's clothiers to just put snaps on the pants and shorts of any size that any child under 8 years old would wear. I think it would just be easier and quicker. Probably won't work, but who knows?

Wisdom From WALL-E

I was brushing my teeth this morning, when I overheard one of my sons utter the phrase, “Acquisition Confirmed.” He was playing by himself with his Hot Wheels, and at first I thought I didn’t hear correctly since the toothbrush noise in my head was too loud. However, as I stopped and listened, He said it again. “Acquisition Confirmed!”

I didn’t realize my son knew such words. There was a moment of pride and a flash-forward to the Nobel Prize Ceremony that would come in just a few years, before I realized that what he was saying was him just repeating words he’s heard in a movie.

You see, on Sunday afternoons, the only way my wife and I get any kind of downtime, albeit a very short downtime, is to have what we call “Quiet Time” with the boys. They don’t really nap anymore, so we usually put in one of their movies, hoping that at least they’ll sit still and get some rest that way while we snooze on the couch and in the recliner.

One of their favorites to watch over and over again, (much to our dismay) is the recent Pixar release, “WALL E.” Now, I’ll be the first to admit, I thought it was clever, but there’s only so many times I can watch that movie! However, my boys love it, so we cave in if it means an hour and twenty-eight minutes of peace.

Near the end of the movie, there is a scene where the ship’s main computer (sorry if you’re lost—see the movie) gathers a plant sample, and says the words, “Acquisition Confirmed.” This is what my son was repeating this morning. Mystery Solved. So long pride…Nobel Prize, you may still happen.

What scared me was that even though I consider my sons incredibly gifted and intelligent (from their Mother’s side, I’m sure), this was still a mouthful to remember and repeat. What I realized is that sometimes even the most complicated thoughts and ideas can get into our minds and stay there. This is dangerous, because the world is constantly throwing stuff at us.

Sometimes it’s very complicated mumbo-jumbo that tickles our ears and our desires to be independent and “free.” Other times it’s simple and sounds like “conventional wisdom.” Whatever description you want to put inside the quotation marks, the point is, too many times we let it into our minds and thoughts because it sounds good, so it must be true. At other times, we don’t even realize we are letting it in, and are not aware of the influence these things have on us.

There’s an old song that says the words: “Be careful little ears what you hear…for the Father up above, He is watching down with Love, so be careful little ears what you hear.” The idea is simply that God is always aware of what goes into our minds through what we hear. If we’re serious about honoring Him, we should pray about any new ideas we think sound great, and then measure them against His Word before we determine that it’s a new, wonderful way of thinking.

I certainly have nothing against thinking for yourself. In fact, when you do make the decision to honor God on your own, I believe it actually means more to Him than a forced decision. Just be consistent—Seek Him on all things, and look for His wisdom and direction when faced with the world. He is faithful, and while this is admittedly very, VERY cheesy, by staying committed to Him, you are one of those who becomes an “Acquisition Confirmed.”

Hope Sneaks In

It’s been awhile since I posted, but hopefully now that the insanity of summer has settled into the chaos of the school year, I can get back into a productive routine. Of course, during the school year, there are still things that come up out of the ordinary, and take us places we don’t always expect.

This past Saturday, I participated in a local “Out of the Darkness” walk, that is designed to raise awareness of suicide prevention, and the link of suicide with depression and other un-treated mental illness. As one who works with teenagers, who are not exempt from these same things, I felt like it would be good to check it out and be a part of the activities.

So, along with two of my trusty kids from church (they know who they are, and they are WONDERFUL), I headed to Mt. Trashmore, a local park, lake, and otherwise nice place to meet and hang out. As I sat at one of the picnic tables waiting for the program to start before the walk itself, I noticed that many people there were wearing T-shirts they made with pictures and names of loved ones they lost to suicide. I’ll be the first to admit, I was worried that it would be a depressing time, which to me seemed a bit ironic.

However, what I quickly discovered, is that while these people were all here because of a terrible event that took a loved one, they were remembering how these folks lived. There was an area called the “Memorial Tent” where pictures of suicide victims were displayed for people to see. Inside the tent, on a large sign were the words, “…They are not defined by how they died, but how they lived, and how they were loved.” It ended up being a very touching display of support for one another.’

Those of us who were there as general participants were challenged to make sure we watch our own friends and loved ones so that any warning signs could be spotted and help offered in time to make a difference.

So there I was, sitting at my picnic table noticing these shirts, when two ladies sat down at our table. Both were wearing a shirt of what turned out to be the husband of one lady, and the son of the other one. The dates on the shirt told us that this particular man had taken his own life just over a year ago. Several times they hugged and put their arms around each other in support.

Also sitting at our table was a young mother with her son, who was probably just about 9-10 months old. During the program, as the speakers focused on the need to be aware, and the need to support, this little baby was playing and smiling and just being about the cutest little kid as he could be. What I noticed was that the two ladies who lost the loved one were interacting with this little boy, and were smiling and laughing through their tears. Playing with this baby that was so full of life was helping them find hope even as they remembered the loss of life so close to them.

That was a moment that I saw God working. It was nothing earth-shattering, and it probably would be considered silly by some, but who else could it be to bring Hope in a tough time? I remembered the little snipped from Jeremiah, “…plans to give you hope…”

I learned two very important things that day. The first was that although those of us that haven’t been directly affected by suicide tend to gloss over the issue, it is still something to which we need to place more effort and emphasis, and about which we have a real need to increase our education.

The second thing was that even in the midst of tough or hard times, God can provide hope—even in the form of a drooling baby. We just have to be willing to see it, and keep our hearts available for the comfort that He can bring.