KEY #P6: ALLIGATOR IN MY SINK

Thank you, Father God, for the alligator in my sink!  
. . . We interrupt this blog to share some good news!  WE HAVE A CONTEST WINNER!  Congratulations go to Rose Finstrom from North Dakota for her answer of "Talks."  If you remember, the contest was to take the first letters of each title word from my "Library Stack" series and rearrange them to spell out a word that could be another word for "Prayers." After all, even though the process of praying involves many components, it is basically  simple communication with our Heavenly Father by "talking" to Him. 
So Rose will receive her free Joshua Story book, which tells the true story of the miraculous birth of my youngest son.  
Next week I'll blog about one of my children using the Easter theme, and the following Wednesday a new series will begin!  Thanks, again, for being my "blog friends!"  I hope that these blogs are a source of encouragement as we journey together in the Land of Abundant Life!


And now we return to our final story from the "Library Stacks"series:  
Thank You, Father God, for the alligator in my sink.  
I'm in the midst of re-arranging and re-organizing the week after my oldest son, K, left for college.  How I miss him!
We switched the boys' bedrooms around to give J the largest one now since he is the only child left at home.  J, my just-turned-twelve-year-old, is happy about his new bedroom, but sad to have his older brother gone.
I'm packing boxes, throwing junk that's been hoarded for years . . . usually by me.  Once I had to take the same item, a treasured memory, out of K's wastebasket three times.  Talk about frustrating! He finally got the idea so now I am the one sorting through treasures and non-treasures.  :)
As I hurried past the bathroom I caught a glimpse of something green in the sink.  Peering closer, I recognized the shape of J's "pet" alligator.  K brought it back for him a couple of years earlier as a gift from a trip to Florida.
The toy alligator "grows" if it is soaked in water.  J evidently discovered it beneath a pile of stuff in his former bedroom and decided to revive it . . to set it free.
Oh, Lord, in my sorrow over the absence of one son, you chose this way to remind me that there is still a child in the house . . . soon to be a teen-ager . . . but one who still relies on his mom.
Like the alligator grows as he absorbs the water, immerse J in the water of life so he will grow in wisdom and compassion as he shoots upward in stature.
Help me be the kind of mother J needs.  Show me how to provide an environment of spiritual growth for him . . . the kind of stretching, yet secure, surroundings that he needs.



Thank You, Father, for once again showing me the work You have planned for me to accomplish during my time on this earth.  Focus me on the job yet to be accomplished!

KEY #P5: KEEP ME CHATTERING, LORD!

Let's pull another story out of the library stack and find another piece of the Prayer Puzzle . . .


"Help, Father God, I'm going through "kid withdrawal" again!
I thought I was over that when my oldest, E, left for college a couple of years ago.  After crying oceans of tears, I began to adjust.  I got busy with life again and contented myself with phone calls and occasional visits.
I remember the aching emptiness when my youngest child, J, started first grade.  But I got to know myself again.  And there were unexpected surprises.  The first time I baked cookies, it suddenly occurred to me that both beaters were mine to lick.  I didn't have to share them anymore!
But now, Lord, my middle son, K, is a high school senior.  He's got a new job and works twenty hours a week.  He cut his hair short and looks a year older.  His new haircut is fuzzy and he let me rub it.
I hardly see him now. . . between school, jobs and friends.  I write him a lot of notes.
I remember two years ago when I went with him to purchase his first suit.  It was a tender moment.  He turned into a gentleman before my eyes.
Now K is also gradually drifting away.  Oh, he'll always love me but he won't live with me. . . share my home and my daily life.  I'll always have my children's love.  The future offers promising visions of holiday celebrations, weddings and grandchildren.
But it's different.  Life changes.  I miss my daughter's bubbly chatter about friends, boys and dreams.
Joshua still chatters.  Keep him chattering, Lord.
Still, I'm happy.  This is what I wanted.  I yearned for my kids to grow strong in Christ and independent of Mom and Dad.
My heart soars on wings of joy when I see how responsible, motivated and thoughtful they are becoming.  That is the way it should be.


How do you feel, Father God, when I get too busy to chatter to You?
That is not the way it should be!
I will never be independent of You.  In fact, as I get older, my dependency on You increases.
Keep me chattering to You, Lord.  Always.

KEY #P4: SLIPS AND FALLS

My youngest son, J, is quite creative.  One day when he was two years old, I found him in the dining room looking under the table, behind the drapes and various other places.  My curiosity aroused, I inquired if he had lost something.  
"I lost my imagination," he replied.  
"Oh no, you haven't!" I responded.  

Another time J came up to me and asked me to guess what he had behind his back.  After a few unsuccessful attempts, I gave up.  
"What do you have for me?" I asked.  
He stretched his empty arms out wide and with a beaming smile replied, "A big hug!"  Happily, I claimed my gift.

However, I began to question my young son's understanding of integrity after an incident in our home one day.
Two-year-old J was bouncing up the stairs in his usual manner when he tripped and fell.  Hearing his cries, I rushed to him and, trying not to show alarm, calmly questioned, "What happened?"
Dark brown eyes studied me cautiously as he picked himself up.  "E pushed me!" he pouted, referring to his older sister . . . who happened to be at school at the time.  J and I were alone in the house.
I shook my head and tried hard to quench a smile that threatened to break out at the thought of the irrational logic my son used to excuse his fall.

However, I'm afraid that my own well-thought out rationalizations of slips and falls into sin appear equally illogical to my heavenly Father.
And I'm also quite sure that when I succumb to that practice God doesn't fight a tendency to smile.
Father, help me to be honest with You, face up to my sins and accept Your forgiveness so that You can transform me into the person You want me to become.  

"S", "L" and "T" so far.  Any ideas for the contest?  (See the box at the right)

KEY #P3: LET ME TALK!

"I'm mad at Mr. Rogers!"  my three-year-old son, K, announced.  He had been engrossed in the popular childrens' television show hosted by the gentle, tender-hearted man called Mr. Rogers who inspired self-esteem in his listeners as he entertained them.
"How," I thought to myself, "can anybody be mad at Mr. Rogers?"
Aloud I said, "Why are you angry?"
My son's lower lip protruded slightly as he protested, "Mr. Rogers never lets me talk to him."
Smothering a smile, I attempted to explain how television relationships operate differently from real life situations.  
Enlightened, but somewhat disheartened, K returned to his play.
As I went about my work, I pondered over the frustration I encounter when I try to communicate with someone who rambles on and on without giving me a chance to get a word in edgewise.


Then I thought of my own prayer life.  Does God get frustrated with me when I bombard Him with request after request, then tie it all together with a quick "Amen" and go about my busy-ness?
Lord, help me to pause frequently in prayer, to give You silences to fill with Your thoughts and directives for my life.

Are you keeping track of the letters to spell a word that can mean "Prayers?"  Today we have "L".  Last week, we used "T."  Watch next week for the next letter.  Remember, they are not necessarily in order!