What Would Daddio Say?

I'm captured with the morning sky today. It's stretching out with various strands of violet, orange, and pink. With it comes a cooler breeze, as I step outside to view the colors. It's a beautiful beginning but a reminder that once again a change of weather will be coming. I find myself drawn to these quiet mornings when all the sky is just a coloring book for God. I have often thought about my Daddio and wondered what would he be saying?

What would Daddio say about the world in which we live? What about all the horrific natural disasters as earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and fires? What about the awful political turmoil stirring up in countries around the world? What about too many wars, covert and overt, found on almost every continent? What about our families, our children as they face a world much darker? What about us, his remaining first generation of descendants whom he sought to love so well? What would Daddio be saying if he were here right now with us?

My answer lies in a story that Jesus told a lawyer long ago. This well educated man thought that he would stump the Master with his question of what do I do to inherit eternal life? But Jesus knew he already knew that answer well himself. No, the real question he should have asked was
how do I live with eternal life in view? That question was answered with the very familiar Good Samaritan story. We are to lay aside ourselves, let go of prejudices, show love and compassion for those in need, and go the extra mile in providing for them even at our expense. If we truly love God with all our passion, all our intellect, all our mortal being, and our soul, we will do just that as we live our days on earth. It was a costly answer then and it's a costly answer now. . .

So I think I know what Daddio would be saying. In fact, I can hear his voice with these words in my head. I can see his face filled with encouragement, even his hug around my shoulder with his hand lifted high. He'd say at first, "Look up, Mary! Your redemption draws nigh!" He'd continue on, "Hold fast to God's word and believe what He has said." With that he'd remind me to always lean on God's word for hope with his descendants, to boldly pray and intercede for each and every one of them. Finally, he'd say to love unconditionally, love until it hurts, love without putting one another in the judgment seat, love with all your heart. . .

That's what Daddio would say . . .

"Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins."
I Peter 4:8

Comments

Easter Production

Driving down the freeway, the large billboard caught my eye. "Join us for our Easter Production," it beckoned with splashy brown and orange colors. It made me think, yes, that's what the resurrection of Jesus Christ has been reduced to. . . a man made production. Even this very day we celebrate, the headlines are all about the celebrities that attract the biggest Easter crowd. E.G. "Tim Tebow draws thousands to Texas Easter service." Once again, I had to think . . . who is Easter really about? What happened to "Jesus draws a crowd?" I have grown tired of celebrity worship. Yet, it seems in America that is what most Christians are interested in. We flock to mega churches, we drink in videos and studies all geared to keep us simple minded and complacent. No longer is theology a priority to be taught. No, it's better to read through the Bible in a year by reading only 5 minutes a day. Never mind, contemplating or discuss...

Close Encounters of the Spiritual Kind

" Put yourself in the path that God will work." (Pastor Martin Smith, 1/2024) On a crisp, clear Saturday morning, I started up the hill with Gypsy Rose eagerly leading the way. I was more caught up in the fresh air feeling that was invigorating, than paying attention to the few cars that passed us by. But there up ahead, a small red truck had slowed to the curb to flag me down. "Could I help him find his son's house?" He was an older gentleman with his phone in hand. He couldn't reach his son because the calls only went to voicemail, and he didn't have his address, only that it was somewhere here in Rancho. I googled his son for him, but unfortunately, it only brought up an older address which was the current address now for this man. There was no updated address for Rancho Cucamonga. I told him the bad news, but he was so very gracious. He did everything to show me that he was for real, pulling out his driver lice...

Awe

The thunder resounded with a loud clap! Certainly, it came as an afternoon surprise. The expected rain seemed less than what was forecasted, but with the thunder came a bucket of heavy raindrops splashing against my kitchen window. I wanted to take it all in, the fresh aroma of falling rain and the beauty of water drops hitting the leaves of my nasturtium and petunia hanging baskets. Unfortunately, the rain cloud quickly fled, running away into the eastern sky. But then the sun made its way onto the scene, and I was drawn to a thick band of rainbow colors shining up at me. The western sky was magnificently orange, completely bound up tight with that solo color scheme. I went outside to catch it all before it would disappear. Creation again was causing me to pause in awe and wonder. . . Awe is that reverential wonder, that even includes fear and respect. It is only a 3 letter word, but it takes bigger and grander words to define it....

Mary's Heartbeats

Search This Blog