Matthew 6:25-34

It's easy to get caught up in worry until you realize that He's got everything under control.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavely Father knows that you need them. But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Confusion surrounds

Dad's back in the hospital again. He fell down the stairs (which I think is his third time now, at least that's been reported). He busted up both his knees pretty bad in the fall. I wish they'd just find something in their tests. He's been having fainting spells for months with no given reason why he's having them.

Golf, birthdays, baseball, softball, what more does a man need?

I teed off at 7:00 this morning and managed to get in 9 holes by 9:00. Of course, I was nearly the only one out on the course at that insane time. Aaron even went with me as my caddy and putt master. In a couple hours from now, eight years ago today, I was helping Katie through that last set of pushes to bring our son, Aaron, into this world. I can't believe he's already eight. Weren't we just bringing him home from the hospital, scared out of our minds and already sleep deprived? It's amazing how he's grown so quickly already. 11:00, first pitch (pitching machine pitch that is). They are playing another undefeated team today, so it should be interesting. I'll be there in the dugout with my "official" COACH shirt. 4:00 this afternoon, my own team (slow pitch softball, hold your laughter) will be in action. I'm finding that playing slow pitch softball at 40 is a lot tougher than playing high school baseball at 16. My body doesn't move like it used to when I was a bit younger. Knowing that today will be in the lower 90's doesn't help my body either. Finishing the day is a birthday party for Aaron, to which my wife somehow convinced me that we should then allow three other young boys to sleep at our house this evening. I don't know how I said yes to that, but I did. Truthfully, it wasn't really my decision. It was one of those, "a couple of Aaron's friends are spending the night. You're all right with that, right? Ok." See, my wife likes to let me think I'm the boss here, but I know better.

Thanks for your prayers. Kate fell asleep early last night, a rare sight these days. I don't know why we're just being hit hard lately, but God's God, and He knows what He's doing. God bless.

Want to go inside my mind?

That might be a scary adventure, but I've just really been thinking about a lot of different things these last few days. Katie's doing well physically, by the way, but she's emotionally a wreck until our son walks into the room. I don't think she settled down for sleep until 3:00 this morning. In Aaron's presence, she tries to hide it in. So, since I've been having so many late nights myself, I've been able to think too. Watching the re-run of the GMA Dove Awards early this morning, I sort of hit a realization that I've truthfully been going over for a long time, always wrestling with my human need to cradle my daughter down here. Then, it was like God just took me in His own arms and said look, your daughter's with the greatest Father of all time. I get caught up sometimes in the desire for Gracie to just come back here with us. But, why? Why would I want for Gracie to come back here on this polluted, broken, and stained planet? Why would I want her to live in this land of sin and pain? What I need the human side of me to think is that Gracie is in the land of perfection. I've heard the Steven Curtis Chapman (who won Artist of the Year last night) line that says, "Jesus can't come soon enough." I've always loved that line, and I've always believed it too, but now I really want that comment to happen. I want to see my Gracie. I just miss her so bad, and Mr. Chapman's right. Jesus can't come soon enough. I want to be a grandfather. I want to grow old with my wife. But, I am so ready for Heaven's Glory!

I told Kate this in the middle of some of my thoughts, doubtful that she heard me, but I had to share what I was feeling at the moment. I said that I really don't think that I can handle her or Aaron going Home to Jesus. I've said before that if Jesus doesn't come back in my lifetime, he better take me first, because I can't live without her. It sounds silly, but it's true. I would be completely lost without this amazing angel God's placed in my life. The husband/daddy in me can't take saying goodbye to another one, even if Eternity will be spent with them. I'm just not strong enough to do that. Because this world is just full of so much pain and brokenness, it can really weigh you down sometimes. I remind myself all the time that this life isn't it. It's a dress rehearsal for the beautiful wedding that will one day come, when the Bridegroom takes us in His arms and welcomes us Home. I am so excited for that day to come! As was wonderfully said last night, He can't come soon enough.

One of my students said goodbye to her father last night, after a 3-year courageous battle with cancer. I know that while we're grieving for his loss down here, Jesus is rejoicing over His amazing child up there, who's now free from pain and fear. In this world of brokenness, I'm really trying to keep Heaven in my mind. It's easy to look around and become frustrated with so much hurt here on Earth, but God's promised such a beautiful residence with Him for Eternity. God bless, and thanks for your prayers.

God's lesson this afternoon

I was driving home from work today, when I came upon a freshly done car accident. The police weren't even on the scene yet. It involved two cars, one nice, and the other likely a little dented even before this accident. Two women (I'm going to resist saying anything about that one out of kindness and mostly fear), one older, one probably 19 or 20, and scared out of her mind. Coming upon it this afternoon, I instantly thought of Kathy Bates in Fried Green Tomatoes (which I probably just happened to catch a couple minutes of while switching from ESPN to rugby). All right, so I have seen the movie; with my wife. But, I didn't cry; at first. Anyways, I stopped to provide anything I could, which turned out to be nothing more than just a quick prayer for the two of them in my head, but I left knowing that God placed me in that situation for a reason. What was the reason you may ask? If I didn't stop for them, I might not have been able to stop when this kid sped his bicycle into the street without ever taking a look either way. I have no idea if anything would have happened, but I do believe that God chose for me at that moment to stop for those two women.

Tonight's concert

All right all you choir singers; I'm attending the Spring concert tonight for the first time ever. I have a few students that I promised I'd watch their solos, and somehow I roped myself into going after that one. Honestly, I love singers. I think the gift that God gave them of singing is great. But, I can't sing. Therefore, it takes a lot of attention for me to sit there for a couple hours and listen to straight singing, no instruments for the most part; just singing. But, because I'm a great teacher (students who've ever had me, nod your heads at this point), I will "gut this one out". I'll sit on the aisle, just in case. One of my students today actually made me really think about my behavior about going tonight. She said, "Mr. Tyler, Heaven is a whole bunch of choirs and singing." I said, "yes, I believe that's true, but hopefully God will let me play guitar." I know that angels have perfect pitch, but I think even Jesus knows when He created someone who can't sing a lick. That someone, that would be me. God bless!

The Resurrection Body from 1 Corinthians

Oh, these passages have lifted my spirit today. Tough day for some reason.

"What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; [5] the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall [6] also bear the image of the man of heaven."

Random ramblings

I have to admit that I'm proud of myself. I've cooked every night since last Thursday. I can't say the meals have been amazing, but they're edible. Tonight, I hand the reigns to an overly accomplished cook; my mother. Kate's doing well. She's moody, but that's expected. She's been crying herself to sleep the last couple of nights. I'm just holding her. We're doing all right. Thanks for your prayers. Aaron is now officially an orange belt. The kid's a machine. He had his third baseball game yesterday. He's a catcher. Why you ask? "They got cool nicknames." So far, their team is undefeated. He's batting something like .832, and his team's in first place. None of that really matters to me. What matters to me is that he is learning such important life lessons, friendship, loyalty, sportsmanship, all from doing something he loves. The shape of his character will make him a good man one day, not that he can hit a baseball. But, it's nice to see him have fun out there. As for me, yesterday was my first attempt at old man softball, I mean playing in a slow pitch softball league. I was 2-3, not bad. I think it's fun, but I found out something. I really am old. Sore knees and back this morning gives that away. God bless.

Aaron's card

Aaron's card that was sitting on the table this morning when Kate came home.

Outside


Inside

Mr. Mom

I commend the Mr. Mom out there, because it's more difficult than I thought. I'm only tending to one child, and there's about to be a coup d'état if I'm not careful! Katie's being released tomorrow morning, and that's when the real "work" begins. We stopped by after school, and she told me she might just stay a few more days. I have been reading about how to care for your wife after a hysterectomy. I'm actually doing my homework on this one. Kate loves the fact that I will likely take over house cleaning and cooking for awhile. Personally, I don't mind it. My mother had us washing our clothes and cleaning the house by the time we were in middle school. So, while Aaron takes advantage of me, I'll just quietly write down all the injustices. One day, he'll be a daddy, and I'll have quite a list of ways for his children to irritate him. Thanks for your prayers and thoughts. God bless.