And he is a boy. We are learning this fast. When you are changing the diaper on a boy, do it fast. Or wear the consequences. He is fast and there is no warning.
But he did smile. Actually he has been lining up and sort of doing practice smiles in his sleep. Some would say it is gas. Well, the gas works is at the other end and it works very well. This afternoon I was changing his nappy and doing all the usual things that dad's do that annoy the living daylights out of mothers, when I coached a genuine smile. We sort of stood there for a while looking at each other, I don't want to know what he was thinking, when I got this most wonderful smile. More a grin than a smile. But I will count it a smile and praise the Lord. He had his first outing to church today. Slept through the whole thing. Didn't snore, but out like a light. Oblivious to all that was going on around him. Not caring about all these strange people who cooed and gushed all over him. Stirred a bit when we went down to the communion rail but that was about all. It wont last of course. We will enjoy the peaceful Sundays at church while we may.
We have two unhappy campers in our house just now. They were a tad naughty. Outside playing basket ball with a tennis ball. That's fine. But the ball went out on the street. In this house, going out on the street without an adult is a no-no. Both girls know it. It has been drummed into them over and over again. But the temptation was too strong for Cathy. So now both girls are in the naughty corner. Oops!
The sermon this morning was from Genesis 2. About marriage. And why we should. And how God ordained it. And what His purpose was in it. And how men should love their wives as Christ loved the church. And how we men ought to do the same. That means we ought to die for our wives, such should be our love and desire for them. But, did he really mean die, as in a physical sense. Well, I got to thinking about this. We men ought to die to what ever desires we have for ourselves. The lady should be first. Not us, but she. The little woman. The bearer of our children. Her desires and wants ought to be paramount over ours.
Do I do that? No. Not all the time. I am trying now. Nine years on as I learn what it means to love sacrificially. Placing Stephanie's needs.wants/desires in front of my own. Up until now we have worked things out considering both of us. And, yes, there is a place for that. But in a practical sense that needs to change.
Now onto another thought. Vicar Phil's sermon this morning was essentially about getting married and the reasons for doing so. Some years ago a couple in a our church were going through some really tough battles in their relationship with each other. I remember something said at the time that really stuck with me. We are really good at making marriages but dreadful at keeping marriages. In other words, the church is good at marrying people but not at keeping them married. We the church need to work more at providing people with the resources to keep and maintain a marriage. And Stephanie said in a practical sense.
Till next time.....
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