Sir Gibbie and Trust

So my sister-in-law Alesha really has me pegged as far as literature goes. Every book she's recommended I read, I have completely and thoroughly enjoyed. She credits this to something she picked up from her daddy, who can read people and recommend a movie that he knows they'll enjoy even if it's not his favorite. I would credit it to her ability to read people as well as the care she has for them.

Anyways, the latest book she had me read was Sir Gibbie by George MacDonald. (It can be found here for free online reading or here for a more modern translation of some of the Scotch phrases George MacDonald uses). The book follows the adventures of the son of a landless baronet in the streets and country around some unnamed town in Scotland. Without giving too much away, since I think y'all should read the book, wee Sir Gibbie is a sweet boy who is taught about Jesus by a simple woman Janet whose only theological training has come from reading her New Testament. He learns to read, and as he reads is convicted of who his Master is, and that he should be following His instructions.

The book really struck home with me, and convicted me of my pride. Having gone to Emmaus Bible College I have gained a decent knowledge of many facets of theology. I know several of the errors that have plagued the Church throughout history and proof texts that show the truth. I know the theological names for several truths shown in Scripture. However, from my more recent reading and discussions with friends that haven't gone to Bible colleges, I've found that sometimes faith is stronger when it is simpler. I'm not saying that knowledge of the Word is not a good thing to seek. I'm also not saying that strong theology is not necessary in this world where errors are rife and the enemy is constantly prowling. What I am saying is that those who only study their Bible and don't necessarily know all the fancy theological phrasings are not at a disadvantage when it comes to defending themselves from error. Sir Gibbie often thinks to himself in the book that he knows what is being told to him is false, and goes to study his Word to reassure himself. This is the habit I think we should all be in.

One of my favorite characters in the book was Janet. She was a shepherd's wife who lived on the side of a mountain with her husband, their dog Oscar and their milk cow. Her husband tended their lord's sheep in the pastures of the mountainside while she kept their home. They had a small cottage and so it didn't take much upkeep, and given that her children were all grown and she was too old to be able to travel well she had a lot of time to herself. She spent it in the best way possible, that is communing with her Lord and Savior Jesus in prayer and reading of the Bible. As I mentioned before, this is woman from whom Gibbie learned his faith. She, to me, is the embodiment of the simple faith that I should and can have if I were to trust Jesus as she did. The encouragement to trust Him, I think, is the best encouragement one believer can give to another.

One of my favorite lines from the book was: 

"It is the heart that is not yet sure of its God, that is afraid to laugh in his presence."
It was and is a good reminder to me that God truly is our Daddy and is infinitely better at the job than any earthly father could hope to be. We can laugh and be joyous with Him and we can cry on His shoulder. Again we can trust Him. He is infinitely good with infinite love for us. How awesome is that? So I pray for y'all and myself that we can learn to trust Him more. 

Contagious Values

I heard a phrase the other day that I've been turning over in my mind.

"Values are more often caught than taught."

The more I think on it, the more the truth of it comes out to me. The context was in the raising of children. Children are more likely to adopt the values they see their parents living out, more so than simply the ones their parents tell them are good. And isn't that burden heavy. If we are following the Lord, then our children are more likely to do so as well. However, if we are living selfishly or proudly, our children will pick that up as well. I am so glad to have the power of the Holy Spirit to help me walk after Christ. I like country music and there's a Rodney Atkins song called "Watching You" that greatly illustrates this point.

Driving through town, just my boy and me
With a happy meal in his booster seat
Knowing that he couldn't have the toy 'til his nuggets were gone

A green traffic light turned straight to red
I hit my breaks and mumbled under my breath
His fries went a flyin' and his orange drink covered his lap

Then my four year old said a four letter word
It started with "S" and I was concerned
So I said, "Son, now where'd you learn to talk like that"

(chorus one)
He said, "I've been watching you dad, ain't that cool
I'm your buckaroo, I wanna be like you
And eat all my food, and grow as tall as you are
We got cowboy boots and camo pants
Yeah we're just alike, hey ain't we dad
I wanna do everything you do
So I've been watching you"

We got back home and I went to the barn
I bowed my head and I prayed real hard
Said, "Lord please help me help my stupid self"
This side of bedtime later that night
Turning on my son's Scooby Doo night light
He crawled out of bed and he got down on his knees
He closed his little eyes, folded his little hands
And spoke to God like he was talkin' to a friend
And I said, "Son, now where'd you learn to pray like that"

(chorus two)
He said I've been watching you dad, ain't that cool
I'm your buckaroo, I wanna be like you
And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are
We like fixin' things and holdin' mama's hand
Yeah we're just alike hey ain't we dad
I wanna do everything you do
So I've been watching you

(bridge)
With tears in my eyes I wrapped him in a hug
Said my little bear is growing up
He said, "But when I'm big, I'll still know what to do

(chorus three)
Cause I've been watching you dad, ain't that cool
I'm your buckaroo, I wanna be like you
And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are
By then I'll be strong as Superman
We'll be just alike, he won't we dad
When I can do everything you do
Cause I've been watching you



Our values, the ones we really live out, are contagious. Are yours worth catching? Are mine?

In My Father's Arms

I don't know how big a deal the 4th of July is for other small towns, but here in Snyder it's pretty much an all day event. We went to the parade at 10 in the morning and stood by the side of the road for an hour while the whole thing passed us by. Beth was the only kid standing in our section and so she got all of the candy thrown her way. By the end of the parade she had a Wal-Mart sack full of candy. (We have been doling this out just a very few pieces a day especially since Michelle had made cookies for the 4th as well). After the parade was over, we walked back to Michelle's grandmother's (Mamaw's) house and sat in her air-conditioning for a while to cool off before heading home. Once we got home we set off some day-time fireworks (making sure to have a hose handy as we haven't had rain for a while) and then put the kids down for nap.

That evening we headed back into town for dinner at Mamaw's. We spent the evening their using sparklers and generally enjoying each other's company. Towards sunset Michelle, Beth, Thad, Michelle's folks and I walked to the park for the fireworks show. We had a little bit of daylight left to set up our chairs and then we settled in to wait for the show to start. Then it happened. My little carefree, daredevil of a daughter heard the first boom of the fireworks and lost her head. She started shaking like a leaf and just got worse with each successive boom. She hid her face in my chest. She was finally able to calm down a bit when I wrapped her tight in my arms. I was able to get her to turn around and watch one of the fans of color that wasn't so loud, but then another big one went off and she snuggled back in and quivered. The next fan that went off I couldn't even get her to turn around to see. She kept telling me, "There will be more boom!" So I held her tight, soothed her, covered her ears and didn't try to get her to turn around anymore. When we got back to Mamaw's house, she was asked if she liked the fireworks and she said yes, but then admitted that the "booms" scared her. We decided next year to bring ear protection for her too, as her little brother had gun range ear muffs on and enjoyed the whole show.

The whole episode made me think of our position as Christians. We are safe in our Father's arms. There's sometimes scary noises going on all around us, and things we don't understand that cause us to worry and tremble. But we can put our faces into His chest and be comforted. We can trust Him to take care of us. We can know that He knows what He's doing. Even if we're scared to look because there will be "more boom" He will hold us and love us. I am so grateful for the fact that we have a Heavenly Father who is the perfect father and is so amazingly better than even the best of earthly fathers. He is Good.