A precious moment

This afternoon I was busy cleaning the bathroom in our master bedroom. Our window from our room overlooks a neighborhood park and ball field. As I went past the window I happened to look out and I saw a dad playing at the ball field with his little boy who looked to be around 3 or 4 years old. I stood and watched them for a couple of minutes and just had to smile as I saw this dad run the bases with his son and as he came to home plate he threw up his arms in triumph as did the little boy copying his dad. It just totally made my day watching that moment and I just had to come back and peek a few more times as I continued to clean. They must of been out there for almost an hour! I wonder if this dad even realized the impact he was making in the young life of his little boy.

A few hours later I was driving home from our local fitness center and I happened to drive by another young father walking along his little girl riding her tricycle. I also observed some other dads outside playing in their yards with their kids. Is there something in the air today? I don't really think so. I think there are a lot of good dads still out there that love and enjoy being with their families. I'm thankful that I was able to take notice of these precious moments today. Not only was it a blessing to see other men who are taking a loving role in the life of their children but it made me reflect on my own husband's role that he has played in the life of our own children. He has from day one played an active part in the love and care of our kids as they've gone from childhood into adulthood. I am so very thankful that he has been faithful, loving and supportive over the years. He is a wonderful father and husband.

I could turn this around now and start to reflect on all the non-supportive dad's out in the world. There are certainly plenty of deadbeat dad's who have wounded and abandoned their families just to live out their selfish desires. But today I choose not to focus on them. Today I want to give a shout out to all the dad's out there that have decided to stay on the path of living faithful and honoring lives. Our world is a better place because of their strength. Because that is exactly what it is. Strength. It takes a strong man to be able to keep his mind focused on his family. It takes strong character to remain faithful. I believe their reward will come as their children grown into adulthood and they take on the same strength and character and live out the legacy their dad's have given them. It is truly a gift.

why did this happen?

Being that this is my 1st time to share my thoughts on a blog I thought it was only appropriate that I start it off by talking about the terrible tragedy in Haiti. My mind can hardly process the images I see and the stories of suffering that I hear.
Why we ask would a loving God allow this to happen? Is Haiti cursed as some people would like to believe? I personally don't think it has anything to do with a curse or that the Lord doesn't love the people of Haiti any less than any one of us. I think the earthquake happened because it was a natural order of things. The earth is constantly changing and will continue to change over the course of our lifetime.
I don't think anybody is ever going to be immune to tragedy. Sometimes it happens on a more personal level and other times it happens to the masses. But I do believe with all my heart that no matter what the circumstance the Lord will always bring good out of the bad. We're already seeing it with the mass outpouring of prayers, money given, people and organizations going to Haiti to give of their time, talents and love. It will take time but this country will rise from the ashes again.

I've seen so many examples over my lifetime of circumstances that looked so desperate and hopeless get turned around. It's hard for us to imagine what we would do if it was our own lives that were affected by tragedy but it's during these times that the Lord brings out a strength and grace that we just don't normally have unless we go through it. There will come a day when we will understand all of this. Right now we can only see such a small glimps of what God is doing in this world and in our lives but we can trust that He will be with us when things seem hopeless.

1 Corinthians 13:12-13
Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely. Just as God knows me completely.
Three things will last forever- faith, hope and love- and the greatest of these is love.