For My sons and daughters

That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth;

That our daughters may be as pillars of truth.  Psalm 144:12

Another favorite song.  Imagine.  

So last night I once again took dad to the Upper Room, with the swirling bodies and throbbing drums and uncontrolled laughter.  Odd but true, but I think that there is no place he would rather be on Thursday nights.  He sinks down into one of the old couches and smiles and claps and sometimes pinches his ears closed if it gets too loud.  And there is pizza and cookies and life is good. 

And last night’s speaker told of a reluctant follower, who was dragged kicking and fussing all the way to where she is at, traveling the world stewarding God’s gift to her, the gift of joy.  And working out on a day-to-day basis what it means to proclaim good news to the poor and to proclaim liberty to the captives, doing what Jesus did.

And one of her leading questions was How do you feel about it when someone one blesses one of your children?  Ah, yes.  My three daughters who hold my heart in their hands. Ah yes.  And really there is no greater joy than them being blessed.  And this is my longing, that my daughters grow up to be strong pillars of truth, sculpted in the palace style.  

From there, Cristina took one baby step further.  And what brings joy to the Father’s heart?  Ah, yes.  When someone blesses one of His beloved children. Therefore let us go out and proclaim blessing.  And bring joy to our Father’s heart.  As we speak words of healing and comfort and truth and encouragement.  

This is how the world will know that we are His disciples, those who walk in His footsteps.  Not by our fancy jot and tittles or political pontificating or even joyous singing.  But by His love.  Poured out of our very clay vessels on top of the heads of His beloved children, splashing down in abundance.  

Happy are the people whose God is You!