A braid appears to contain only two strands of hair. But it is impossible to create a braid with only two strands. If the two could be put together at all, they would quickly unravel. Herein lies the mystery: What looks like two strands require a third. The third strand, though not immediately evident, keeps the strands tightly woven. In a Christian marriage, God’s presence, like the third strand in a braid, holds husband and wife together.

“...lo, I am with you always…” —Mt. 28:20

Empty Nest

• You know you are suffering from “Empty Nest Syndrome” if...you have thrown out the better part of the last several one-gallon jugs of milk but still can’t bring yourself to buy the one-quart cartons.
• You called the power company and asked them to check your meter because the hot-water bill has been way too low.
• You suddenly realize that you no longer need to include video late fees as part of the monthly budget.
• You are shocked when you notice you can push the buttons on the car radio and KNOW what station you will get.
• They’ve been gone three years, and you still cook enough for your husband and have seconds and thirds...and fourths.

Used to Being In Trouble

At the end of a day, I parked my police van in front of the station. As I gathered my equipment, my K-9 partner, Jake, was barking, and I saw a little boy staring in at me. “Is that a dog you got back there?” He asked. “It sure is.” Puzzled, the boy looked at me and then towards the van. Finally he said, “What’d he do?”

“A merry heart doeth good…” —Prov. 17:22

To My Child

• Just for this morning, I am going to smile when I see your face and laugh when I feel like crying.
• Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear and smile and say how perfect it is.
• Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry and pick you up and take you to the park to play.
• Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.
• Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.
• Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck, and I will buy you one if he comes by.
• Just for this afternoon, I won’t worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.
• Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won’t stand over you trying to fix them.
• Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald’s and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.
• Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you.
• Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.
• Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars.
• Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you and miss my favorite TV shows.
• Just for this evening, when I run my finger through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me such a great gift. I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching for their missing children, the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children’s graves instead of their bedrooms, and mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer, and screaming inside that they can’t handle it anymore.
• And when I kiss you good night, I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then that I will thank God for you, and ask Him for nothing, except one more day.  

“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.  As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate” —Psalm 127:3-5

Nothing New Under the Sun...

Generational tension is not a phenomenon which erupted in our century. It is as old as the trouble Adam and Eve had with their two boys (Gen. 4). For example, when did this conversation occur? An angry father asks his teenage son, “Where did you go?” The boy, trying to sneak home late at night, answers,  “Nowhere.” “Grow up,” the father chides him. “Stop hanging around the public squares and wandering up and down the street. Go to school. Night and day you torture me. Night and day you waste your time having fun.” Was that sharp rebuke administered last night by an irate dad to a defiant juvenile? No, it comes from Sumerian clay tablets 4,000 year old.  —Dr. Vernon Grounds, Homemade

“Could I climb to the highest places in Athens, I would lift up my voice and proclaim: Fellow citizens, why do you turn and scrape every stone to gather wealth, and take so little care of the children to whom you must someday relinquish it all?” —Socrates

“Train up a child…” —Proverbs 22:6