The Cahill's

Something really struck me as I watched the movie, Luther, tonight. When he was going to defend himself at the first Diet of Worms, all the people were making a big fuss over him, asking for his blessings, sort of making an idol of him, but he paid no attention. His mind was not on popular opinion.

Later, in front of many nobles, church officials and powerful men, he refused to recant, and turned to leave. He had defended himself well and made a good points, the people were impressed, but he did not look to any of them for approval, nor did he look to the crowd as they chanted his name.

What he did was by conviction of what was right, not by what others thought about him. Luther looked to no one but God and that’s what made him so steadfast.

I too often am swayed by the crowd, trying to please them rather than coming to convictions and abiding by them. I look to man for approval instead of God; I go with the flow. Just as Luther’s stance encouraged the princes to stand up for their beliefs, so I pray that I also will be inspired to stand firm.

Kids make the common place, livelier.

Tonight there came about a sequel to Micah’s “Come Thou Fount,” only this one would have to fit under “Showers of Blessings.”

On the soccer field “mercy drops round us were falling”. Little did I know that it was only a precursor to what would later happen in dish pit.

Tonight at dish pit I was tired and just trying to do my part to help get it done. Well there I was minding my own business, loading up the dish washer, when suddenly a stream of water hit me in the back. I let out a surprised yell and turned around to confront Andrew Schrader holding the sprayer and giggling. I laughed, grabbed the other sprayer and chased him out of the dish area (please note that I didn’t start it – Andrew took the first shot 🙂

I went back to loading and made it through half of the trays, when the second barrage hit, only this time it didn’t stop. Under constant fire I grappled with Andrew over the weapon while water shot every which-way, until I finally shut it off at the source.

After finishing the loading amid many attempted strikes, I finally tried the old proverb; If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. I invited him to combine efforts with me and use his passion for spraying for the good by helping me clean the counter. A minute later I had to beat a hasty retreat. Not being one to get down easily, I conducted a little surprise attack on my preoccupied foe. A bucket of water settled the score nicely.

How does this fit as a shower of blessing? It caused me to look outside of myself, enjoy the moment and finish the day with a smile on my face and in my heart. No wonder the Bible says that children are a blessing from the Lord.

“She considereth a field and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard” – Prov 31:16

I was thinking about my mom and how the things she planted early in my life are starting to bear fruit now. Much like a gardener, our moms have to work without visible confirmation of their labor. They plant with the hope that it will grow, they tend to us for a long time before fruit ever appears. They try to protect us from the harsher elements of life, enrich our lives, and sometimes entrust us to others care for a season. But there comes a point where they have done all they can and must trust God to give the increase. They live on the faith that if they train us up in the way we should go, in the end we will not depart from it.

Our family might have stopped after my older brother and I were born. My parents realized the awesome responsibility of bringing another person into the world; could they risk the chance that one of us might not follow the Lord? But because my parents knew they could face uncertain days because He lives. Through my parents faith I am privileged to know Stacie, Lori, Brian, David, Timothy and Katie, and to have briefly met Paul.

Here at school I have seen over and over the impact that my mom has had on my life. It may have taken a long time for this flower to bloom, and this plant to bear the fruit of her labors, but her work may now be made manifest and even extend to others she may not even know.

Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works (me) praise her in the gates.