3:23 p.m. Today's project was to begin pinning down a date for Steve's and my 30th anniversary party, and my 60th birthday. We also want to renew our wedding vows with our children standing up with us, and our grandsons present, along with family, friends, and the pastor who officiates. I would love to have our son Kriss and our nephew and niece sing. It's a little early to get the program pinned down, but a girl can dream, can't she? Daughter Heather is our event planner, a role she has done so well for State Senator Emmerson. I'll leave it up to her to find appropriate locations here in the neighborhood. She'll have plenty of help from her siblings.
Funny, but when our children actually did "spring up like olive plants around [our] table" (Psalm 128:3), we couldn't have envisioned how competent, committed to service in their community, country and in their churches the five of them would become. They are no more perfect than we are, but they will not tolerate injustice or chicanery, especially in the public arena. And they are pretty outspoken in their Christian ministries as well! May I add that their spouses and Heidi's fiance reflect the same qualities, as do our grandsons. We have been blessed--and challenged-- by their youthful zeal. And zeal in a righteous cause is always in order. A messianic prophecy of Jesus Christ in Psalm 69:9, quoted again in John 2:17 when He overthrew the sellers of merchandise at the Temple, says of Him,
Zeal for Your house has eaten me up.
Lord, give me zeal for the things of You--Your word, Your people, Your work, Your heart for the lost! May I "treasure the words of Your mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12).
Planning for our renewal of vows will have to take a back seat to our daughter's upcoming wedding. It's seeming a little too upcoming, with only 4 months to go! Every day I work on one project or another to help her along and alleviate her stress. Teaching a primary grade is no easy task, and she puts in long hours at work and prep time at home. I well remember those first couple of years as a teacher. All those personalities, the details and the planning--and then an announcement comes over the intercom that blows your whole day. "Blessed are the flexible," we teachers would hear more frequently than we cared to. So Mom here tries to help out my bride-to-be.
July brings another kind of major event for our youngest son Steven, the National Collegiate Bodybuilding Championship in Pittsburgh, PA. I'll be flying out to watch and cheer him on, so a number of logistics will need to be coordinated besides the flight and lodgings--either caregiver or family help for Steve staying here at home. Travel was already becoming confusing for him years ago, so he'll enjoy a "change of personnel" right here for a weekend. That way, Steven can enjoy a stress-free focus on winning, along with some mother and son bonding time.
That reminds me of another quality the Lord has gifted our children with: diligence bordering on perfectionism in their work. The confidence in the Lord they received growing up, and the love God gave us for each one to grow into the person God intended, has caused them to be able to set long-term goals and high standards for themselves. It's God's doing--Steve and I just lent discipline, guidance and mature judgment to their endeavors, and let them fall a few times, knowing we'd be there to pick them back up and keep cheering them on. I've always loved the verses below, about all of the starts and stops, ups and downs of the Christian's life, our life in the last three decades:
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the LORD upholds him with His hand. (Psalm 37:23-24)
Light is sown for the righteous,
And gladness for the upright in heart. (Psalm 97:11)
There will be plenty of opportunities to stumble and fall with so many events coming up this year, but we won't fear, because our infinite God will pick us back up!
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