Breaking the Rules

I am a stickler for naps, even at four years old.  Jason and I have just found that all three of us are happier if Charlie gets even a little bit of sleep mid-afternoon.  The time varies based on our activities -- as does the location -- but it never fails: if Charlie naps we have delightful evenings; if he doesn't bedtime seems like a distant dream.

Weekends are always the hardest, though.  Our standard rule is that whether or not he sleeps, Charlie has to spend at least one hour "resting" and another playing quietly in his room. (And yes, this is at least as much for me as him -- but I figure that I figure he gets a lot of his personality traits from me, so I'm probably much more pleasant when I've had my "me-time").

So I'm sure Charlie was downright shocked this afternoon when I opened his door a mere hour into nap, acknowledged that he hadn't slept and told him to get up and go help his dad in the yard.  We had a bit of a tussle when he wanted to wear his church pants out (they apparently double as safari-pants due to their color), but came to a compromise when he unearthed an old pair.

Imagine his surprise and Jason's and my delight when Charlie walked out to find his brand new tire swing house-warming gift from Texas instead of chores.  Grandma and Grandpa are officially the coolest people in the world for at least the rest of the day -- to say nothing of Mom and Dad who managed to hang the crazy thing without a ladder and without killing each other.

I guess once in a while some rules are meant to be broken (at Mom's discretion of course).

Dear Charlie,

My dear, sweet boy, you are going to be wrong in your life much more often than you'd like to admit. I know this because it's true of everyone since Adam, but more importantly because as much as you look like your father, you take after your mother in many ways...

So I have some very important advice for you: anytime there is a problem, anytime there is a question, anytime there is a disagreement, anytime there is confusion, before you waste your time worrying about, blaming or accusing another double check your facts...

You see, July 2013 was the first full month that we had renters in the Summerville house.  We found a beautiful family who are kind, honest and excited to live in the home we love so much, and especially after some of our other prospects, your Dad and I are extremely grateful for this family.

The first rent payment was due on July first, but the father called on the second to let us know they'd forgotten to mail it over the weekend, so it would not arrive until the third (still well within the grace period of the lease).  Knowing the terms of the lease, Daddy and I were comfortable and impressed that they'd called so soon.

But then the check didn't come on the third, and of course July fourth is a holiday, and the check still didn't come the fifth or the sixth.  Daddy decided to wait through the weekend until today (July eighth), but when we checked the mail there was still no payment.  We were very concerned.

Daddy and I had both thought very highly of this family and wanted to be gracious and kind and understanding, but we also knew this wasn't a very promising start to a rental relationship.  And to be frank, without their rent we could not afford to pay the mortgage on the Summerville house...so we needed that payment.

After checking the mail this evening, Daddy called the father who then called the mother who was not at home, but knew for a fact that she had mailed the check on the second.  As Daddy and I waited for the call with the address and details of her payment (thankfully the mother is very detail oriented and saved her shipping documents), Daddy decided to check the lease to verify that there were not any additional addresses that may have confused her (since we had repurposed a friend's lease). 

There were not, but there was another glaring problem.  Mommy had typed the wrong address in the payment section.  Rather than ending in a 2, I had ended the house address in a 6.  For almost a week Daddy and I have wondered and worried over a missing rent payment that I had had mailed to the wrong house.

Obviously, I am embarrassed to admit that I didn't verify the payment address on the lease. (Not an excuse but a sad fact: I'm not a very detail oriented person and horrible about proof reading.) Additionally, I am terribly regretful that my mistake led your father to make a "collections" call to our renters who had done everything right.

At four years old, there is no way you can really learn from mistake, but in the midst of my humiliation something occurred to me -- despite being a forum for funny stories and cute pictures, this blog is primarily for you.  It's your baby book.  It's your history.  It's a record of Daddy's and my love for you that I hope you'll have until you're old and gray.  By sharing my mistake in this forum in the hopes that you will one day read through all these stories and anecdotes and conversations, maybe you will be quicker to scrutinize yourself than others and therein save yourself, your wife and others all sorts of headaches and embarrassment over the years.  I sure hope so.

All my love,
Mommy

P.S.  And yes, as always, God is more merciful to me than I expect.  The address I provided was that of our new next door neighbors, whom we had yet to meet before this evening.  They are a delightful older couple named Bobby and Geri who have been traveling for the past week.  The mailman should bring all their held mail tomorrow, so they have not had the chance to question, throw away or send back the envelope addressed to your Daddy at their address.  We should be able to call the renting family tomorrow and let them know their check is safely deposited despite my mistake and lengthy delay in recognizing it.

So thoughtful

Charlie: May I pleeeeassse take a picture?
Mommy: Yes.  But be careful not to touch the lense.
Charlie: I'll take a picture of myself

Charlie proceeds to stand by the desk and take many, many pictures...

Mommy: You sure are taking a lot of pictures?
Charlie: Yeah.  It's so if you miss me you can see me a lot.

Planning Ahead...

Just a little Sunday afternoon fun...

Before & After

Here are the pics of the new house!  We really love it...even Charlie says he loves everything about it.

Clearly it was a lot of work to settle in, but as you can see Charlie did the bulk of it... as soon as he gets a little taller we plan to have him hang all the pictures...

And now for the results of all his hard work...

Man Talk

Charlie: "Dad, I love you. I would not trade you for anything."
Jason: "I love you and would not trade you for anything either."
Charlie: "If I had a different Dad I would love him too and I would not trade him. I sure am glad that I got you though!"

Uggghhh...

Well, I am officially out of the running for mother of the year.  Saturday was Charlie's first off-shore fishing trip, and Jason and I made the grave mistake of thinking I could handle the calm seas at the Off Shore Reef and the Charleston 60...uggghhhhh...

I was fine until we made it past the jetties, but as soon as we hit the rolling waves my stomach hit a wall.  For the next two hours (and/or 2 million years...depending on your perspective) I felt like I was trapped in that moment immediately before you get sick.

Apparently it had been so long since I'd been out in rough water (since I was pregnant with Charlie, actually) that Jason and I had both completely lost touch with reality.  In addition to it being Charlie's first off-shore fishing trip, we took friends and their kids, so their was absolutely no turning back.

For about two hours (aka 2 million years) I was the absolutely worst host ever as I just stared off at the horizon wondering what on earth I had done to make Jason hate me so much and I how I could live with myself realizing that I hated him even more.

As we were circling over the sunken barges, (Yes!  Circling in Rolling Waves!!!),  and I contemplated suicide and/or murder, Robert got a bite and reeled in a nice black sea bass that all three kids took turns touching before they let him go. 

Moments later, Jason noticed a tug on his line, and as soon as he mentioned it Charlie shouted "Fish On!!", raced to the rod and started reeling.  He got the second black sea bass all the way into the boat on his own, but declined to touch this one since the first was slimy.  All the while, two tremendous barracudas were circling the boat -- it was picture perfect. 

Sadly, though, there is not a picture to be had.  There wasn't enough money in the world to get me to stick my head underneath to find the camera or look at that tiny screen.

Finally (and yes, I know that is horrible, but I'm just being honest), sweet little Alice started to feel the waves, too and burst into tears.  All I could think was that she was right, that was the only appropriate response, and I should have started crying long before.

As we turned and headed back in, the ride smoothed out since we were going with the waves and by the time we beached just across from Fort Sumter I was talking again and even ready for some lunch.

I am terribly sorry that I didn't get pictures of Charlie's first ocean fish, and a little bit sorry that I won't be able to help out with him on future expeditions, but to be honest, not that sorry about that.  I've made Jason promise to never ask me to go out again, because I fear that I will stupidly agree thinking it will be better.

Of course, he did mention that even though Dramamine, Bonine and the bracelets have all failed for me, there is prescription nausea medication available.  He then quickly agreed to not mention that again for at least a couple years -- when the horror of Saturday has worn off a little...

Just a moment...

Charlie: Why do you have to close your eyes when you pray?
Mommy: Well you don't have to, but sometimes it's a good idea so you can concentrate on God and not be distracted by what's around you.
Charlie: Oh.  I didn't know that when I was a baby.
Mommy: As you grow up you're going to learn lots of new things.
Charlie: Yep.  And when I grow up all the things you teach to me, I'll teach to my son.

Last Batter

Sometimes everything just falls into place to turn a common occurrence into a spectacular event...and Friday night was one of those times.

See, it all started Friday evening on the way to T-Ball.  Charlie asked me to tell him a story and pretty much all of my stories star Curious George as a blatant stand-in for Charlie himself.  In Friday's story George was the smallest member of his t-ball team and often feared that the other kids would laugh at him when he was up to bat because he sometimes missed the ball.  When it was George's turn to bat he did miss the ball on his first swing and expected to hear laughter, but instead everyone was cheering for him.  When he swung again, the ball went farther than it ever had and George scored a home run with all the ensuing fanfare...and everyone lived happily ever after.

Fast forward to the second inning, and Charlie had the coveted position of "last batter".  New to me this year, but essentially, when the last batter is up the fielding team has to replace the ball on the tee to end the inning.  Sometimes they also field the ball trying to get outs, but more often than not they just take it to the tee.

As happens in any sporting event, the crowd's attention waxes and wanes, but for some reason our whole section suddenly seemed to focus on the game as Charlie came up to bat, so he heard cheers other than just  mom's and dad's as he warmed up. 

After a brief chat with Coach TJ, Charlie swung and managed to smack the tee so the ball actually fell back towards him, but just like in our story, the cheers only got louder.  So he scuffed his feet and swung again, and the ball truly did fly farther than it ever has before -- almost to the pitcher's mound, so Jason's and my cheers were definitely louder than usual.

Charlie started to pull up at first base, but Coach Bill told him to keep on going, so in what I consider the cutest running posture ever (head down, chin out and arms motionless down to the elbows, then swinging below) he powered on to second, then with encouragement on towards home with the crowd roaring and Coach Lopez actually swinging his arm around just like they do in the big leagues.

The look on Charlie's face as he slid into home amidst the cheers was a mixture of shock and pride, and I'm sure Jason's and mine were a mirror of the same -- along with tremendous gratitude.

It wasn't a playoff game, it wasn't the final inning, they don't keep score in t-ball and the ball had actually been on the tee since about second base, but I would argue that in the course of over 6000 years of Creation that moment was just as significant as any final play in any Olympics, World Series, Super Bowl or Final Four.  No one could convince me that millions of dollars, lengthy contracts or fancy tropies bring more joy or build character better than a little boy trying his hardest and through the mercy and love of friends, family and strangers, exceeding his wildest dreams.

Sweet

It's no secret that our house is a wreck with random gadgets and gizmos all over the place...especially the dining room.  On the way up to rest this afternoon Charlie and I just had the sweetest conversation...

Charlie: Mom, what's that tiger game?
Mom: What tiger game?...Oh, that?  That's a cake pan.
Charlie: Can I have it?
Mom: Buddy, it's really just to bake in.  I used it to make your sock monkey cake for your first birthday.
Charlie: Well, when I grow up can I give it to my wife?
Mom: Of course, Buddy.
Charlie: Or I could keep it and use it myself.
Mom: Yes, you could.

I really love this boy.

What to do...

when you find yourself whining about the blessings in your life?

Take a break and enjoy the spring with one of your favorite boys.

It's hard...

I now have new-found respect for military wives and women whose husbands are transferred frequently.  Being a good mom when moving is really hard -- and we're just moving from Summerville to West Ashley.  I really don't know how these ladies that have to move cross country every couple of years keep their sanity or why anyone (us included) would choose to move without a really good reason (like saving the world, escaping a plague or something...)

I'm approximately two weeks into packing and by the looks of my house I have about two years left to go.  Granted, I only pack for a couple hours per day in an effort to maintain a relationship with my son and prevent him from becoming a complete couch potato, but it's tough. 

You start taping together one box and trying to figure out how to cram 48 coffee cups into it without breaking any and the next thing you know Curious George is over... 

(Don't tell Jason, but I am finally realizing that he has a pretty legitimate argument when he says no one needs 6 complete sets of dishes -- even if one was her Grandma's, one is Christmas, one is her wedding china, etc...)  Sadly, it appears all but a few odd plates will make it to the new house...you just never know when you might need extras...)

I am proud to say, though,  that I'm finally throwing away half of the left over embossed napkins from our wedding and all of the wine labels we saved from the wine of the month club (I'm not sure what we really thought we'd do with them anyway...).  

And to be honest, I'm debating chucking all our yearbooks.  Seriously, what possible use could we ever have for 13 years of bad pictures?  I haven't been able to commit to that one yet, though.

Ok, my break is over.  Charlie negotiatied (yes...I know it's terrible, but he's really good at it and I'm feeling weak today) for an additional 10 minutes before nap because he is using a ski rope and ultimate frisbee to save lives from his swingset -- he's in the Coastguard today (his poor wife will ave to move A LOT).  But it's already been 14 and a tired Charlie is a mean Charlie...

I'm assuming this goes without saying, but clearly if I'm struggling to find enough hours to be a good mother, there is precious little time to be a good blogger, so you'll have to forgive any extended silences (even you, Mom!).

Peanuts

Since his second Halloween Jason and I have encouraged Charlie's interest in Charlie Brown, Snoopy and friends.  I have always loved the Thanksgiving and Christmas specials, and since Charlie does, too, we've gathered many of the other specials. 

Even though Jason and I find some of the shows a bit slow (Peanuts specials definitely have a slower pace than current kids shows...it's actually kind of refreshing), it is nice to sit down with Charlie and laugh at the same jokes we enjoyed 30 years ago (and not worry about questionable topics).

But, as sweet as the reminiscent fun has been, nothing could have prepared me for the absolute joy of his response to 1992's It's Spring Training Charlie Brown. 

There are many, many blessings and wonders of being a mom...but laughter is definitely my favorite!

My Little Realist

I once had a professor call me "una cinica" when I struggled with the premise of Love in the Times of Cholera...but seriously, how crazy is it to think that a couple could barely meet and still be passionately in love with one another 60 or so years later?  I think not.  At nineteen my opinion was that they should have focussed on their real lives and they probably would have ended up a lot happier...

I countered that rather than "una cinica" I was "una realista"... and it appears that my four year old is developing (or was born with) a similar mindset.

This weekend my mom forwarded me one of those adorable emails with gradeschool children answering somewhat philisophical questions, so of course we quizzed Charlie.  His answers are in bold.  And for anyone concerned, he does still believe pixie dust and that his stuffed Bella has feelings...it's hard to explain, but I can vouch for the fact that stubborn realism and joyful imaginations do, in fact, go together.

WHY GOD MADE MOMS

Why did God make mothers?

1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.

2. Mostly to clean the house.

3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

Charlie: "So they can have babies."

How did God make mothers?

1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.

2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.

3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

Charlie: "He spoke them."

What ingredients are mothers made of?

1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.

2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Charlie: "I don't know.  God."

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?

1. We're related.

2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom like me.

Charlie: "Because He wanted to."

What kind of a little girl was your mom?

1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.

2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

3. They say she used to be nice.

Charlie: "A daughter...even now she's a daughter."

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?

1. His last name.

2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?

3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Charlie: "That she'd spend her life with him forever."

Why did your mom marry your dad?

1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot.

2. She got too old to do anything else with him.

3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Charlie: "Because she loved him and she liked him and she wanted to get married...And because she wanted a son." 

 

Who's the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.

2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.

3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

Charlie: "DADDY!... I guess..."

What's the difference between moms and dads?

1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.

2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.

3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.

4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

Charlie: "She's a girl and Daddy's a boy.  And she has long hair."

What does your mom do in her spare time?

1. Mothers don't do spare time.

2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

Charlie: "Play and go to the Children's Museum and see friends and go to church."

What would it take to make your mom perfect?

1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.

2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

Charlie: "God."

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?

1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.

2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.

3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

Charlie: "That I make the rules."

 

 

Needless to say...it's pretty clear why God made me Charlie's mom...

A Fact of Life

"Hey Mom, cowboys either have horses or black trucks...fast black trucks."

 

 

Play Ball!

Today may have been my favorite day yet...  There are just no words for how much fun it is to be your son's biggest fan -- especially when you get to do it on "That Day" (first day you notice that everything is green) with the man of your dreams and one of your dearest friends.

I truly couldn't have had more fun today, nor could Charlie or Jason.

The play by play...

Easter Week - Saturday and Sunday

We spent Easter weekend camping at Hunting Island and participating in your traditional egg hunts and games.  Rather than create any crafts or activities to teach about Friday, Saturday and Sunday we really just tried to use every opportunity to talk about what happened on those days...so we had some serious, some confusing and some joyful talks in the tent, walking on the beach and riding in the car. 

Whether or not Charlie truly understands the meaning of Easter, I can't tell you -- but Jason and I are confident that he knows what happened that week and we hope that as he grows this knowledge will become faith, so he, too, can rest in the hope and peace of God's perfect and complete plan for our salvation.

Easter Week - Friday

Sigh...It's 6:41 AM and I haven't figured out how we're going to cover Good Friday.  It was such a horribly tragic day, but the purest and most perfect example of love in history.

I suppose we'll focus on that and read the account of the day then read I Corinthians 13.  Thankfully, Jason is home today so we can tag team it!

Now when morning had come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death; and they bound Him and led Him away and delivered Him up to Pilate the governor.

Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood."
But they said, "What is that to us? See to that yourself!"
And he threw the pieces of silver into the sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the temple treasury, since it is the price of blood." And they counseled together and with the money bought the Potter's Field as a burial place for strangers. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one whose price had been set by the sons of Israel; and they gave them for the Potter's Field, as the Lord directed me."

Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?"
And Jesus said to him, "It is as you say." And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He made no answer.
Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?"
And He did not answer him with regard to a even a single charge, so that the governor was quite amazed. Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the multitude any one prisoner who they wanted. And they were holding at that time a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?" For he knew that because of envy they had delivered Him up.
And while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him."
But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death.
But the governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?"
And they said, "Barabbas."
Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" And he said, "Why, what evil has he done?"
But they kept shouting all the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!"
And when Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing,k but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of this Man's blood; see to that yourselves."
And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children!"
Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he delivered Him to be crucified.

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. And after weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on His head and a reed in His right hand; and they kneeled down before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they spat on him and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head. And after they had mocked Him, they took His robe off and put His garments on Him and led Him away to crucify Him.

And as they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross.

And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, they gave Him wine to drink mingled with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink. And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots; and sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there. And they put up above His head the charge against Him which read, "This is Jesus The King of the Jews."
At that time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left.
And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads and saying, "You are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, "He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we shall believe in Him. He trusts in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He takes pleasure in Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.'"
And the robbers also who had been crucified with Him were casting the same insult at Him.

Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachtani?" that is, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"
And some of those who were standing there when they heard it began saying, "This man is calling for Elijah."

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook, and the rocks were split, and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.
Now the centurion and those who were keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"
And many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, among whom was Mary Magdalene, along with Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

And when it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given over to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave.


Matthew 27:1-61

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails; but if there are gifts of  prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

I Corinthians 13:1-13

Other References
Zechariah 11:12-13
Genesis 20:6; 31:11
Joshua 2:19
Psalm 69:21
Psalm 22:18
Psalm 22:7
Psalm 22:8
Psalm 22:1
Exodus 26:31

Easter Week - Thursday

Thursday is where so many Easter stories begin (including Charlie's Easter movie).  While in truth the story really began in Genesis 1:1, Thursday through Sunday are definitely the climax of the story -- at least until He comes back.

I thought about trying to recreate the Lord's Supper with Charlie, but I couldn't figure out how to impress upon him the metaphor of the bread and the wine.  I think that lesson might be better learned when he is older.

So I decided to wash his feet.  It's interesting that an act of such pure service really seems commonplace when we do it for our children.  To wash anyone else's feet would be a serious departure, but to wash Charlie's is pretty normal.

Still, it's tough to imagine that if after all I do to serve Charlie day in and day out, he were to deny that I am his mother or that he even knows me.  Clearly I would still love him and I don't think I would be angry, just terribly disappointed and terribly sad.

And to think that Jesus did and does so much more for us and we deny Him all the time...


Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.  And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God, and was going back to God, rose from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself about.  Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.  And so He came to Simon Peter. 
He said to Him, "Lord, do You wash my feet?"
Jesus answered and said to him, "What I do you do not realize now, but you shall understand hereafter."
Peter said to Him, "Never shall You wash my feet!" 
Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me."
Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head."
Jesus said to him, "He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you."  For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, "Not all of you are clean."

And so when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments, and reclined at the table again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you?  You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.  If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.  For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.  Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is no grater than his master; neither is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.  If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.  I do not speak to all of you.  I b know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who easts My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.'  From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He.  Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."

...

Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, where are You going?" 
Jesus answered, "Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you shall follow later."
Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You right now?  I will lay down my life for You."
Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for Me?  Truly, truly, I say to you, a cock shall not crow, until you deny Me three times."

...

Peter therefore denied it again; and immediately a cock crowed.

John 13:1-20, 36-38; 18:27

 

Other References

Exodus 24:8

Jeremiah 31:31

Psalm 41:9

Job 1:6-12; 2:1-6

Amos 9:9

Isaiah 53:3

Matthew 26:17-75

Mark 14:12-72

Luke 22:7-65

John 13:1 - 18:27

Easter Week - Wednesday

If Tuesday was tough because there was so much, Wednesday was just the opposite.  There is nothing in the Bible about what happened on Wednesday...which is so odd when you think about the detail of the other days.

In an effort to impress upon him the difference, we sat down for our Bible lesson without the Bible.  He did notice -- but of course just assumed I forgot it. 

I think the absence of information made a much greater impression on me than on him, but we did spend some time talking about what he and I would be thinking/feeling if we knew that we were going to be crucified on Friday and then fulfill our life's purpose on Sunday by coming back to life and thereby providing a route to eternal life for millions.

I imagine that it was a frightening and exciting day for Jesus.  Very profound...maybe too profound for a four year old...in fact, maybe too profound for a 35 year old...