Father Are You There?

I was one of those bad Moms; I let my children sleep with me. My youngest was especially attached and when Dad decided she was to old to sleep between us, it was hard for her to be alone in her room. Almost every morning we would find her laying on the floor beside our bed inside her sleeping bag. No matter what punishment we threatened, fear would grip her during the night and here she would come. She just wanted to be near us.



When she was in second grade we moved into a new house. It was decided that Kimberly's room would be the one attached to the master bedroom. There was even a door that came from her room into ours. Surely this would make her feel safe at night so she could finally sleep in her own bed.



But each night the old fears would attack and she would say, "Mommy, can you hear me?" I would reply, "Yes, baby, I can hear you, can you hear me?" Seconds later, "Mommy, are you there?" "Yes, baby, I am still here?" In just a few minutes, "Mommy, can you hear me breathing?" With a deep sigh I would say, "Yes, baby, can you hear me breathing?" After a longer time, "Mommy, I love you, are you there?" With a smile, I would reply, "Yes baby, I am here, I love you, too." As sleep would begin to invade her little body, I usually got one last request, " Mommy, if you hear something will you come get me?" Knowing she was almost asleep I would reassure her, "Yes, Baby, but you are safe so go to sleep."



Now years later, I find myself being that little girl wanting reassurance from my Father. As I wait on the doctors, I find myself saying, "Father, can you hear me?" I am always met with the answer, "Yes, Debi, I can hear you."



Feeling confident, I proceed into life, but then comes another doctor appointment and more news and again I cry out, "Father, are you there?" "Yes, child, I am here." Once again, reassured and confident, I go on about my daily life.



Then Satan sends his ugly fear again, and I finding myself gasping, "Father, can you hear me breathing?" Lovingly He reminds me, "Yes child, I am the breath of life, I hear you breathing."

Christianity in Action: Even in the Snow

This weekend my wonderful husband and I went for a sleep study. Since we were a couple, the nurse decided to wire us up in the same room at the same time. Now in our 35 years of marriage we have shared many things, but I can honestly say, this was a new experience.

As she wired us, we talked about many topics including our jobs, grandchildren, and children. Toward the end of the wiring session, the nurse asked how long we had been married. I was proud but not surprised when Carl replied, "We've been married 35 years." To this she replied, "You two are such a hoot. I can tell you have fun together." Carl's next answer did surprise me, "Last summer we did a study with a young couple on Love Languages. That study really helped us understand each other." You guessed it, her question was, "What were your love languages?" My husband had now turned this wiring session into an explanation of love languages and how God uses an understanding of those languages to strengthen relationships. Now I am sitting with wires coming off my head feeling very guilty. My husband is witnessing to this nurse, while I am ignoring her by doing a Sudoku puzzle. He has taken an opportunity to show a person how Christ is alive and active in people's everyday lives.

The next morning we awoke to terrible snowy weather. We decided before driving home we would treat ourselves to the breakfast buffet at Furr's. We were the only car in the parking lot, but my rule follower husband would not park in the handicap parking next to the door. Oh no, he decides to park across from the door and gets stuck in a snow bank. After several minutes, he frees our car and at my urging (nagging) he parked in the handicapped spot.

Just as we settle into our spot, a car pulls up in front of Furr's and several women get out. The car pulls away from the door, and you guessed it, got stuck in the same snow bank. Now my husband decides to help the young man get free. He goes over and starts to push. As he is pushing, the car swerves toward him and I am sure he will be run over. To this sight while sitting in the warm car, I am saying, "Carl, just get in this car before you get hurt." Of course, he did not hear me because now he is using a shovel to dig the car out. After many minutes of pushing, digging, and swerving the car goes free.

As we are sitting eating our breakfast, the manager of Furr's comes over. She begins to tell Carl how much she appreciated his help with the car. It seems that the young man was the husband of the cashier and he had brought several ladies to work. The manager told Carl that it wasn't often that a person was willing to help a stranger and that she wanted him to have a gift card as a reward for his effort. Carl replied that there was no need for a thank you. He told her, "That is what people do, they help someone in trouble." Now I am feeling very guilty, because you may remember, I just wanted him to get in the car.

I am glad God sends gentle reprimands to me. I began to wonder how many opportunities I had missed to put my Christianity into action. Colossians 4:17 "And whatevery you do or say, whether in word or deed, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

Does that include getting a car out of a snow bank? You bet it does, I am sure if Christ had been in the parking lot He would have been helping. But since Christ was not physically there, Carl had to be His hands and feet.

Does that include telling a nurse that a Christian based study on love has helped our marriage? Of course, it does. If Christ had been in the room, He would have proclaimed the blessing of a Godly spouse. But since Christ could not physically be in the room, Carl had to be His mouth.

So Lord, I am reprimanded. Thank you for reminding that we, the Christians, are your hands, feet, and mouth on this earth. Keep ever present in my mind that everyday life offers countless opportunities to share the love of Christ with lost and huring people.

Yes, our Christianity should be in action, even in the cold, bitter snow.

Snow Days and Precious Memories

There is something so beautiful about snow. The glistening blanket of snow is pure, unblemished, untouched by anything or anyone. I am always reminded that God has covered my sins making them as white as snow; before God I am pure and unblemished.

Any accumulation of snow in the Texas Panhandle brings with it closings of schools, churches, and any social events. These closings force families into their homes where they actually have to spend time together.

Because I work for the school system snow days are bitter sweet. In one sense it is a day off work but on the other hand it is a loss of a holiday. In this case, the Monday after Easter which is one of my favorite days out of school. So as I contemplated being home today, I began to remember many precious memories of days gone by.

I grew up in Phillips, a company town. One winter it snowed so much that everything stopped; in fact, the snow was so deep everything was shut down for several days. My father worked at the Phillps plant; since no one could come or go, the men who were at work when the snow started were stuck. My mother was trapped at home with four girls. Mom did not drive and, even if she had we only had the one car which was with Dad at work. Many families including mine could not get to the store to get groceries or anything else for that matter. In our little town we had the Cut Rite Grocery owned by Frank Badeen. Soon our phone rang, it was Frank asking if we needed any groceries. Mom gave him her list and he assured her he would bring the supplies. Do not ask me how he managed, but before the end of the day, Frank arrived with our groceries. When Mom offered him what money she had, he replied, "Just pay me when you can." I do not know how many families he helped during those days, but I know that to the Cheatwood family, he was an angel sent by God.

My Mom loved to read and I am fortunate that she taught me to love books. She bought books from our Weekly Reader Book Club and kept them ready for snow days or days when we were sick. So on snow days, we each got a book wrapped up in our blankets and started to read. I think these days are the reason that once I start a book I want to read until I have it finished. When we finished our book, Mom would ask us to tell her all about it. Still today on a snowy day, I am tempted to curl up under a blanket with a book.

So today is a snow day and I am the Grandma. I am at home with three little boys and I am trying to create memories for them. We started under a pile of blankets watching an exciting episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. After breakfast we broke out the Play Doh, a special treat. The boys love it, Nana not so much, but it is fun watching them create monsters and globs. After lunch, an energetic game of Wii Sports and Star Wars, the Clone Wars. I am making stew and brownies. Each boy is picking out a book to read under our pile of blankets.

Glistening snow is beautiful, but today the most beautiful thing in the world is the smiles on three the faces of three little boys.