Thanks Thoughts

 

It has been almost three years since all of our family has lived under one roof.  It’s a different time, a different age, a different season.  We’ve all changed.  Now as we reconnect we are forging new memories worthy of thanksgiving.

 

Presently I have listed 316 “gifts” on the way to 1000. It’s slow going.  At the current rate I’m on pace to complete it sometime in the year 2017.  Some of the most recent entries are: friends and family for Thanksgiving; cold crisp nights and bright stars; learning what you thought you already knew; epic stories; introduction to new worship music; playfulness; the quietness of a snow walk; randomness.  As I look over the list it’s interesting to note how much I value the gifts found in nature.  John Oxen brings out this nature theme and thanksgiving in the poem A Little Te Deum of the Commonplace.

 

For all the first flushings of the spring;

The greening earth, the tender heavenly blue;

The rich brown furrow gaping for the seed;

For all thy grace in bursting bud and leaf…

For hedgerows sweet and hawthorn and wild rose;

The meadows spread with gold and gemmed with stars,

For every tint of tiniest flower,

For every daisy smiling to the sun;

For every bird that builds in joyous hope,

For every lamb that frisks beside its dam,

For every leaf that rustles in the wind,

For spring poplar, and for spreading oak,

For queenly birch, and lofty swaying elm;

For the great cedar’s benedictory grace,

For earth’s ten thousand fragrant incenses,

Sweet altar-gifts from leaf and fruit and flower…

For ripening summer and the harvesting;

For all the rich autumnal glories spread –

The flaming pageant of the ripening woods,

The fiery gorse, the heather-purpled hills,

The rustling leaves that fly before the wind

and lie below the hedgerows whispering;

For the meadows silver-white with hoary dew;

For the sheer delight of tasting once again

That first crisp breath, of winter in the air;

The pictured pane; the new white world without;

The sparkling hedgerows witchery of lace,

The soft white flakes that fold the sleeping earth;

The cold without, the cheerier warmth within…

For all the glowing heart of Christmas-tide,

We thank thee, Lord!

 

 

Simple Delights

Here’s what you missed if you were unable to attend the Simple Delights Dessert Tasting at our home on Saturday afternoon.  These treats are the creation of Maria and Christina,  They are available for your holiday parties, dinners and gifts. 

 

 

 

 

Peanut Butter Balls – $3.00 per dozen

Chocolate covered Pretzels – $2.50 per 2 dozen

Turtles – $5.00 per dozen

Fudge – (1 inch square) – $3.00 per dozen

Pecan Squares – $5.00 per dozen

Cheesecake Bites (plain) - $3.00 per dozen

Cheesecake Bites (chocolate covered) – $5.00 per dozen

Almond Biscotti – $3.00 per dozen

Sugar Cookies (decorated) – $3.00 per dozen

Cranberry Bars – $5.00 per dozen

Hershey Kiss Cookies – $4.00 per dozen

Cheese Ball (regular) – $5.00

Cheese Ball (small) – $3.00

Spice Bars – $3.00 per dozen

We will be glad to fill orders until Saturday, December 22^nd.

Sundry Thoughts

Here are a few final sundry thoughts from the manhood seminar in no particular order:

 

A father needs a community of men around his son. Early on it is family and close friends, but as they spread their wings the community grows bigger.  I often said to Daniel, “When you leave home, look around for a godly man to mentor you.  It might be the president of the college or it might be the janitor.  Position isn’t important, but a heart for God is.”  The funny thing is that he took me at my word.  Now men I hardly know like Dan, Clint, Zane, AJ and Josh have made huge contributions into his life.

 

Settle on a definition of manhood.  What are the qualities you want to see developed in your son’s life?  Remember it is your definition.  It doesn’t have to be perfect but pursue these qualities together.  Be on the journey of mutual growth.  Personally I have found that I have been a good mentor in some ways and in others not so much.  One of the best gifts I gave to my son was our adventure to Mexico.  It was without a doubt one of our most stressful and difficult times in our relationship.  On the other hand it offered the elements that are challenging to a man.  Breaking out of our comfort zone, we entered into an adventure that took courage, changed our perspectives, was filled with hardship and grew our faith.   

 

John Eldredge makes this point clear in his book Wild at Heart.  “Life is not a problem to be solved; it is an adventure to be lived… [God] rigged the world in such a way that it only works when we embrace risk as the theme of our lives, which is to say, only when we live by faith.  A man just won’t be happy until he’s got adventure in his work, in his love and in his spiritual life.”

 

Of course you wonder about the long term impact of a ceremonious gathering.  Was it meaningful?  Will the teenage years enhance or erode the impact?  What will his adult life look like?  Soon after we arrived back in the U.S., Daniel took off for school in Colorado without mention of any confirmation.  Then when he returned on Christmas break, he asked if we could complete it.  So we gathered up some of the same men and met for a breakfast gathering.  I ecouraged him with these words, “I am proud of you. You have grown into a man and I give you my blessing.  Manhood is not a solo journey – surround yourself with Godly men.”    

 

These ceremonious gatherings are not just for our sons.  Diana has given both of our girls a womanhood tea.  Here’s the inspiration they were given, "A woman of God's design loves God wholeheartedly, finds her identity and security in Christ, seeks to reflect the image of God in modesty and virtue, and ministers grace to others through her biblical roles." 

 

A Ceremonious Gathering

 

The cold winter blast coming through the door as the men arrived only heightened the warm festivity inside.  A hearty aroma of roast, potatoes and apple pie filled the house.  The table was set, the ceremony about to begin.   We gathered to eat in front of a blazing fireplace.  The feel of hunters and lodges, knights and round tables, elders and city gates was in the air.  We talked and laughed, we ate, we built a special bond.   

Our fellowship was comprised of six men: one was an outside adventure guide, another was a white-haired grandfather, two grew up in South Africa, the other was a long time family friend and there was me.  We were ceremoniously gathered to challenge and to inspire my thirteen year old son in his trek toward manhood.  A journey filled with adventure and pitfalls, victories and danger, uncertainty and courage.
 

As the meal was completed, our time took a more serious turn.  First I gave Daniel the charge, “A real man stands strong and courageous, accepts responsibility, provides leadership, acquires honorable character, and lives for a transcendent cause."  It was a definition I had gleaned from the Bible, others’ writings and my own thoughts over the preceding weeks.

 

Each man took a component of that definition and shared their thoughts.  One reminded him “treasure God from your heart.”  Another said that “the Lord bestows favor and honor on those whose walk with Him is blameless.”   On and on it went into the night with each man offering nuggets of wisdom and insight gleaned from their own walk with Christ. 

 

Then as the evening was winding down, Daniel knelt with each man placing a hand on his shoulder in a symbolic gesture of blessing.  Prayers were spoken over him – prayers for his heart, prayers for his future, prayers that would follow him for years to come.   

 

A leather NIV Bible was signed by everyone and presented as a gift to commemorate our time together.  Afterwards we dug into apple pie and coffee.  Then each man gave their well wishes and drove off into the night having created a lasting memory and a giant impact.