A Child's Father

A mother may have the ability to encourage her children but a woman's proctective nature sometimes can hinder a child's desire to explore, discover and learn. It's the thought of our little ones hurting themselves or "that stain will never come out!", which makes us pull back and say..."No, not there. Don't climb that. Don't touch that. Put that down. You'll get muddy. Your shoes will get wet. No. No. No".

I know this can be the case with me sometimes...sometimes. My mother didn't let me play in the rain or puddles and I often got in alot of trouble when I arrived home with my school uniform "mysteriously" soaked (even though I had a raincoat and umbrella). I don't fault my mother. She raised her two daughters the very best way she knew how. Trust me when I tell you...we were always very clean and safe.

So, in nurturing a desire to allow my children to play AND keep them safe...bring on the dirt!

Within reason of course.

Yes, mothers tend to be the ones thinking about all the possible scenerios involving an emergency room visit.  But there is something about the way a man is made that makes them such great encouragers to their children.

On occasion, they can seem to be aloof to potential danger. The truth is dads do not desire their children to get hurt, but to experience life to it's fullest potential and yes, they are watching...

...just like our Heavenly Father watches over us.  He never demands we do things His way. He instructs, leads, guides, and encourages us along the way.  Sometimes we make mistakes and fall, but He doesn't turn His back on us and walk away.  He is close by to lift us up and show us where not to step next time and to learn from our experience.  He teaches us to trust Him and in time we do see and understand that He only has our best interest in mind.

I'm so thankful I have a Father who loves me enough to always have a gentle, caring eye on me and never pushes me to do more than He knows I can.

And I'm eternally grateful our children have an earthly example of that love.

"Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged." (Col 3:21 NLT)

Sweet child, may your Father's blessings be abundant this weekend.



"A Child's Father" photos by Lisa Arnold with Canon Powershot SX110IS 9MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) AT A VERY CLOSE AND SAFE DISTANCE :)

Inspired by silence

As you know and I hate to admit, I've had a very difficult time putting thoughts into words.  I'm not exactly sure why but I've noticed that many writters and other bloggers are having similar problems. It's frustrating because I have so many really cool [ninelittlewords] encounters that I want to share but I can't seem to them into words.

However, this isn't going to be a hum-drum, whoah-is-me post. I'm actually going to do what so many other bloggers are doing through their own writer's block. Posting anyway.

One of the purposes of naming this blog "...and other snapshots along my path", was to also share with you my visual experiences and how those moments inspire me...and maybe inspire you.

So out of my silence today, I will share a picture of a place that was teeming with life and reminded me of Psalm 1. 

"Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish." (Ps 1 NIV emphasis mine)

It is not the fear of being blown away like the chaff of wheat that motivates me.  It is the desire to feel myself "teeming with life" that brings me to a place of delight, where He is the first One I think of when I wake up and my last thought as I fall asleep.

As I meditate on His Word, I know my Lord watches over me and my family. I drink that truth every day and find peace in it, no matter what storm of life may rush over us.

Blessings for your day,


Tree by stream photo by Lisa Arnold with Canon PowerShot SX120 IS - Digital camera - compact - 10.0 Mpix - optical zoom: 10 x - supported memory: MMC, SD, SDHC, MMCplus - black

Blogger!

I am currently having a love/hate relationship with blogger. I format what I write out to look a certain way and then the entire posting changes. I go back and edit, save, post...and no luck.

So for now...his nine little words story will have to wait another day...again.

But it's such a funny story!

[Blogger. Fail.]

Regardless, I wish you blessings for your day.

Under construction

Seems like I'm not only working on myself but also my blog.  Maybe by the time you see this it will have a whole new look!

Cannot wait to see what "develops".

Blessings for your day,
 

**Update**
-Ok, maybe not a whole "new" look but I do like it.

I'd love to be writing...

...but instead I find that my summer has become a time of daydreaming and growth.

 ^6-9 Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9, The Message)

Loving my children. Living, laughing, breathing with them this summer has been a joy and an experience I hope to never forget. I pray that the moments of daydreaming and praising God for His creation and all things good, carves valleys of memories so deep nothing else will ever fill them other than the love of Christ alone.  I pray that their own desire to share that love and joy burns with such a passion, that no storm in life will ever be able to extinguish it.

 ^5-7That precious memory triggers another: your honest faith—and what a rich faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Lois to your mother Eunice, and now to you! And the special gift of ministry you received when I laid hands on you and prayed—keep that ablaze! God doesn't want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible. (2 Timothy 1:5-7, The Message)

So for now, instead of thinking of all the things I am not doing or getting done and allowing it to burden my thoughts, I will think on all the things I do get done and remember the goodness of God and how blessed I am to be given the title "mother".

 ^8-9Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. (Philippians 4:8-9, The Message)

I hope you find yourself daydreaming of God's goodness and desire nothing more than to share it with others.

Blessings for your day,

Pine tree against blue sky by Lisa Arnold taken with Canon PowerShot SX100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)