This is one of my most favorite pictures of all time! Why? Because I love my dad so much and in this picture, my 2 year old arms are trying to show him just how much. My dad is one of the smartest men I know, but of course he doesn't think that. Sometimes I wish I had a tape recorder for every time he talked...that way when we're apart and I need to know something or need a piece of advice, I can go through my filing cabinets full of tapes and find the one labeled: "The Book of Hebrews" or "How to fix the computer modem" or "How to solve a discrete system" or "Why to use your thinker" or what about the 18 tapes about "Cars."--those kinds of things!
God has also given him an AMAZING voice! When we were younger, we didn't have alarm clocks by our beds. We didn't need one...DAD was our alarm clock. 630AM SHARP..this is what I was suddenly startled awake to: a loud, tenor voice from the stairs singing, "Get up, Get up and praise Him! Get up, Get up and praise Him!" --reaching for the pillow and turning over, I tried to cover up the sound that so intrudingly woke me from my sound sleep. But now, I can think of no better way to be awakened. I love you, Daddy!
We as children, try to be obedient to our dads by doing what they ask us to. Perhaps it's a task that takes a couple days/weeks to do, so we get started on it, happy and pleased with ourselves that we're being obedient. But then half way thru, he lets us know that even though our heart is right, we're not doing what he asked...but why?? Because we didn't LISTEN thoroughly and follow all instructions. So now we have to start all over. I think this happens often with God the BIG Daddy! We get our instructions and off we go, anxious and impatient to get on the road. But He allows us to keep walking that path---us thinking the whole time, "yeah! this is awesome! look at where i'm going to end...WHAT?!"--and suddenly something gets put in our path and our world turns upside down, stopping us from going any further. We are discouraged, frustrated and confused thinking the whole time, "but i thought you said...don't you want me to be happy!?" only to realize that what we thought God said and what He actually DID say, were 2 different things. Then we humbly realize the lesson being taught: LISTEN and then obey. Because what we think we're going to achieve can be great--but what God wants us to achieve is AWESOME and always much better!!
Lord, teach me to be patient and LISTEN before I move. Give me a clear understanding of your instruction and allow me to continue in the path YOU have laid for me. I love you Lord.
