Tuesday, February 28, 2012

February 28 – “Batting helmet of God”

 
 
Hey.  It is possible to get good news in a letter from the Internal Revenue Service.  Of course this particular good news followed some particularly bad news several weeks ago that we were being audited.  I had to put together a stack of documenting materials about what we filed back in 2009.  Good thing they didn't ask about 2008 or before.  All that was washed away in the hurricane.  Anyway, they sent us a letter saying that they have reviewed all the documentation we sent (sure, they did), and have decided not to change anything in our taxes for that year.  Well, thank you very much, IRS.
 
Kel asked me to help him coach Jachin's Little League baseball team.  Last night was the first practice.  Eleven little kids are on the team, with two girls.  Four or five of them have never played before.  Only one of the girls was there, pink glove in hand.  She told me she had been practicing with her Dad.  It showed.  Not that she was incredible or anything.  She just didn't throw like a girl.  I had three who had never played before in the warmup time.  They started tossing a ball back and forth.  Spent more time chasing the ones they missed than throwing.  So I had the start again on one knee fairly close together.  They tossed gently to each other for a while, then spread farther and farther apart.  Seemed to work for them as long as they mimicked the motion of when they were on one knee.  Kel then had them run some sprints to first base.  That turned onto races.  The kids didn't want to stop.  It got dark pretty quickly, so that was about all we had time for.  He moved practice time up thirty minutes earlier, so maybe we'll get a few more drills in tonight. 
 
Josiah was at practice, too.  He was wearing an oversized batting helmet and a batting glove extended from one hand with the fingers all flopping over.  Very cute.  He wandered all over the playing field trying to get near me, often walking right between those playing catch.  Totally oblivious to any sense of danger.  He was just focused on getting over to see DadDad.  Great spiritual lesson there.  As long as we are walking toward Jesus, wearing the batting helmet of God's protection, we can walk through just about anything without fear.  I want to do that with this rheumatoid arthritis pain.  I want Chris to do that as we walk through all the family drama that promises to unfold during and after her Dad's funeral.  I'm encouraged.  Thanks, Josiah.
 
Jeremiah 1:7-8 says, "But the Lord said to me, 'Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,' declares the Lord."
 
Father, thank you for speaking through Josiah.  And he didn't have to say a word.  Amen.

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