Recent Devotions

I’m trying to remember my parents’ last words as I went off to college. 

I’m not positive, but they were probably along the lines of “I love you” or “I’m proud of you” or “Work hard” or “Remember, you don’t have a job or money so spend accordingly.” Either way, their last words were encouraging, uplifting, and wise. 

“If God were to answer all your prayers, would you even know it?” When my friend Cliff asked a room full of church goers that question, I felt conviction. I tend to pray safe prayers or broad prayers. “Bless this or that” or “Watch over him or her.” My prayer life can be so clouded with generalities that I’m not always sure when, or if, God specifically answers. Or, worse, sometimes I’m just not sure what to ask for, so I don’t ask for anything.

Do you remember the first time as a kid you decided you were not a big fan of the rules? You were told to clean your room, but you didn’t like cleaning your room. You knew you were supposed to put your dirty laundry in the basket, but you weren’t a fan of laundry. You knew that your job was to empty the dishwasher, but it seemed excessive and unkind to ask a kid to do such hard labor. And why should you have to mow the lawn when you weren’t the one who sent the rain and made it grow!?

I pursued my wife. I think I chased her until she simply surrendered in exhaustion. I was like a cheetah chasing after a gazelle. In my mind, she was playing hard to get. You know, making me work a bit. What she really wanted was for me to initiate. She still does. 

When I was in high school, public displays of affection were frowned upon. Warnings against PDA were written in the school handbook that nobody read.

Sometimes I’ll think something is wrong in my marriage when nothing is wrong. It’s my own insecurity. Or maybe I simply miss the signals. Sometimes I’ll ask my sweet Melissa, “Are we good?” 

My kid was chasing a ball into a busy intersection the other day, cars speeding everywhere. I didn’t say anything. He had a smile on his face and seemed like he was having so much fun!

Talk is cheap, but love is costly because love does. If love doesn’t do anything, if it’s good intentions and no follow through, all talk and no walk, then it’s not love.

Have you ever been loved? Has some knight in shining armor showed up at your doorstep on his trusty steed (or Honda Civic) bearing gifts?