Speaking Shadows

II Samuel 1:18

Also he bade them teach the children...

the use of the bow...

© Angela Beatty 10/10

As I was walking this trail along Oil Creek, my shadow preceded me and I recalled a sermon I heard many years ago, "What kind of Shadow are you Casting?"  All of us leave a shadow in the lives of those close to us - sometimes even on those not so close to us.  Probably the shadows that will live the longest are those we cast on our children's lives. 

In the Scripture today, Samuel was telling the Israelites to teach the children the use of the bow.  In essence, he was commanding them to pass down the skills they had to their children.  It seems "apprenticeship" is a thing of the past.  No longer do we see generations of tradesmen who grew up under the tutorage of a father, grandfather, or uncle.  The sad thing is that along with skill, we teach character and build relationships when we invest that much time in helping someone develop a skill.

I wonder what skills I have that I've neglected to take the time to teach my own children.... When I'm gone, will the shadow I leave in their lives be short-lived?  Or will I leave my children with values and skills that will stay with them all their lives, values and skills that they in turn will pass on to their children? 

"Grape" Expectations!

Galations 6:9

And let us not be weary in well doing: for

in dueseason we shall reap, if we faint not.

Finally! The grapes I discovered growing in my back yard early this spring have ripened to a perfect purple. When I get home today, I'm planning to pick them and proudly display them in the fruit bowl on my kitchen table. Maybe it's a little silly, but I'm really proud of them. I've spent all summer watching them grow and anticipating the day I could pick them and taste their sweetness.

You know, it can seem like forever between the time something is planted until it reaches its potential. My grapes have only taken the summer to ripen, but I've invested in things in life that have taken decades to blossom and ripen. Raising children can be like that. Finding financial success can be like that. And personal development can be like that. But the good news is that one day you'll take another look at your "vineyard" and suddenly all of your efforts and waiting will have paid off, and you'll be getting your own fruitbowl out to set on the table.

Little Green Bombs

© 7/10 Angela Beatty

Isaiah 54:7

No weapon that is formed against the shall prosper;

and every tongue that shall rise against thee

in judgement thou shalt condemn.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,

and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What exactly is a weapon? I consider these little green crab apples to be one of nature's most lethal weapons. As youngsters, some of the country boys could throw these little buggers with enough force to black eyes and leave some pretty mean bruises. I have a sneaking suspicion that boys of every generation manage to discover their fire power if they happen to be exposed to nature very long.

Just the other day, after I pointed out a crab apple tree on one of our walks, Andrew walked up to me with a bag in his hand and asked if I could buy him some PVC pipe. I held my hand out for the bag and peeked inside and immediately knew that he had thoughts of taking an age-old boyhood crab apple stage to whole new heights. This is the child that just last week explained to me how to make gunpowder out of charcoal and sulphur or some such chemical. But my Momma didn't raise a fool! lol (The child is as mild as they come, but has this irresistible urge to experiment - my little Thomas Edison.) I can see the headlines now. Family home destroyed when youngster's crab apple cannon explodes.

So what defines a weapon? I'd say anything that can be used to hurt us. Not many of us are going to carry the scars of bullets on our body, but most of us already sport scars in our hearts from lies, harsh words, broken promises, and disillusions. And chances are pretty good we have a fresh wound or will be wounded in the near future.

These things hurt, but in my opinion the most lethal weapons known to mankind are anger and bitterness. Words and lies are fired from others, but anger and bitterness are like errant grenades. When the pin is pulled they blow up and destroy the one holding them before they can ever be thrown. Sure the intention is to fight back against an enemy, but they never seem to work that way.

God's promise is that no weapon formed against us will prosper. That doesn't mean they won't hurt, but that they won't destroy us. Our heritage is HIS righteousness..... peace, love, joy, longsuffering, gentleness, kindness... Ah, but it's so much easier and so much more satisfying to start stockpiling our own grenades, isn't it?

PS. If my blogs suddenly stop appearing, check the local headlines to see if Andrew managed to find his PVC pipe! lol

Wee Ones

© 7/10 Angela Beatty

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child

in the way he should go:

and when he is old,

he will not depart from it.

~~~~~~~~~~~

A few days ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to watch this mama duck taking her ducklings from the shore out onto the Lake. The waves were rolling in and she just seemed to bob for a second with each one and then emerge on the other side. For the ducklings it was a different story altogether. They'd swim out a little ways and then a wave would wash them right back onto shore.

It was a bit comical to watch. I was videoing the event, sure I had a viral video, but unfortunately it didn't turn out. It took about 15 minutes for the gaggle to get out of range of Melinda and I who were threatening their space. We enjoyed watching the mama "get her ducks all in a row" and paddle off.

But what about my little ducks? lol They're not so little anymore! One is grown and the other as tall as I. Much of my training is in the past. But I recall an eye opening moment when my oldest was two years old. She was a big girl for the day and rode in the front seat with me (pre air bag era). I remember her telling every car on the road how to drive... "put the pedal to the medal sneed" ...."this is the road, not a driveway"...."let's move, I don't have all day"

After the humor wore off it really struck me that she was emulating me. The lesson struck home, and since that day when I see a flaw in one of my kids I take a good look in the mirror before I correct them. Showing your children how to behave is more effective than telling them. Kid's learn "what is caught" much more quickly than what is taught.

I've come to the conclusion that kids are God's little spies!