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Category Archives: family fun
A Father’s Day Blessing Named Colton
We pause today for Father’s Day. I had some perfect thoughts for the occasion…part six of our series “Raising Faith.” It can wait until tomorrow, for seventeen years ago today, I had the privilege of bringing my second son into the world. He was born on Father’s Day weekend and has been the delight and apple of his father’s eye ever since.
You may recall that I referenced him a few days ago. Colton came into a world filled with chaos and noise. He was my quiet child. Was, that is. Somewhere around age ten, he found his voice, and for the past seven years he has filled my life with much laughter, warmth, and weary! I’ve not parented him perfectly. In many ways, the life that we share together as mother and son might just well be my perfection in the end.
I love Colton. His energy is boundless, and his love for life, for people, for God, and for conversation mirrors his mother’s reflection. His tenderness of heart and his passion for just about everything are worthy of my tribute. Therefore, I want to share with you something I wrote about him ten years ago…almost to the very day.
We were preparing to leave my childhood home in Kentucky to make our way to North Carolina where my husband would assume the role of his first pastorate. It was a hard transition, and our feelings surfaced raw and unsuspecting at every turn. This was one of those occasions. As I chronicled back then, Colton had much to teach us during that season of change. He still does. May God bless this particular “stone of remembrance” as only he can.
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June 1998– “A Peaceful Letting Go”
It was one of those defining moments. You know the kind. It came suddenly…unexpectedly…yet perfectly timed.
Colton, my soon-to-be seven year old, was greatly anticipating his upcoming birthday. Upon a routine trip to Sears, he spied some shiny new bikes and decided that one of these treasures was his heart’s desire for his special day. I spent a few minutes explaining to Colton that, indeed, a bike would make a nice gift. However, knowing Colton, I told him that he would first have to learn to ride his brother’s bike before we would purchase him a new one. I thought that this discussion would be the end of it, for my son is extremely frightened about trying new things–especially launching out on a new set of wheels.
After returning home that evening, I noticed that Colton was squirming around in the garage, trying to access his brother’s bike. He announced to me that he wanted to practice. D-day was five days away, and he was going to learn. With skepticism, I strapped on his loosely fitting bike helmet and sent him out to the street with his abundantly patient step-dad. I would watch from the porch.
After thirty minutes of 90 degree heat and running up and down the road with wobbly bike in tow, my husband handed the responsibility of teaching over to me. Colton was making progress, yet remained terrified of the letting go. In my no nonsense kind of way, I instructed Colton to look ahead, move the pedals, and focus on the task at hand. I assured him of my grip, and off we went. After two or three trips down the road, my weariness was apparent.
You need to know that I was tired. I had just come down from a very emotional two weeks without husband, without parents, working full time, finishing the school year, selling a home, preparing for a move, wanting to keep peace, looking for peace…longing for peace. So in all of this upheaval, there I was…
Running…sweating…instructing…frustrated…exhausted.
It was at that moment, when it happened. Christ came down and jogged alongside us and spent a few moments creating a most profound realization within my spirit. In those brief moments of suspended time, the Lord revealed to me that it was not my son’s lack of coordination, nor his inability to focus that remained his barrier for taking off. It was my grip–the tightly locked fingers on the back of his seat–that was keeping him from success. I was certain that he was going to crash. He was going to hurt himself, and in that hurting, he would become discouraged and never want to try again. In that moment, the pain and discouragement of all my past “letting go’s” came back, and I knew what I must do.
Immediately, my grip released, and I watched Colton take his first attempts at riding alone. He left me behind and soon realized my absence. He had done it–wobbly for sure–lacking in finesse–but complete in the process. My moments of being a proud momma were coupled with the reality of the brief jog with my Savior.
Peace came in waves, and I collapsed in the comfort of its cleansing power. As usual, the tears welled, and I wondered if anyone around me was witness to this milestone—this moment of pure and real transformation. It far exceeded the accomplishment of bike riding and extended to the deeper level of spiritual warmth and understanding.
I was learning about letting go. About my dependence on the human grip. About the loosening of my grip and learning to ride. Wobbly at times. Frustration to the point of tears some days. Falling quite frequently, yet riding nonetheless.
I privately guarded my thoughts in that moment, and now, just a few weeks before another letting go, I sit to write and reflect. My father has often said that life is about the “letting go.” Trust comes with the process, and I feel confident that as long as my trust is correctly placed, the peace will continue to come in waves.
Leaving my childhood home for a second time will be tough. This time, there are two little boys who share the grief of the good-byes. We will all “let go” in just a few days, and a new adventure will begin. Will we wobble? I’m sure. Will we hurt? Most definitely. Will we glory in the accomplishment of the riding? Well…you could ask my Colton. You see, his little taste of success…his baby steps of trusting…led him to continue in the pursuit, and five days later, that blue shiny bike greeted him as he embarked upon another year of life!
He is a good one to teach me a lesson. I will watch him and take strength from him in the days that lie ahead. Together, all of us will face our fears, our hurts, our joys, and remember the “bike rides” in seasons past that have encouraged us to launch out in faith. In it all, we will look around at our surroundings and see the Master Teacher jogging alongside, authoring the defining moments and cheering boldly for each step of our progress. Thank God for his grip that remains sure even in the letting go.
May God be with you in your moments of “letting go,” and may you sense his deep peace that comes with the trusting!
Happy Birthday, Colton. You have been worth every moment we have jogged together.
I love you!
A Second Ladle of Grace from Amelia’s Wishing Well
“Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’” (John 4:13-14).
She couldn’t have known what her time at the well would mean for her in the days to come. Truth had come to meet her at the point of her deepest need. And when Truth arrives,
Truth transforms and transcends. He reveals and he requires. He invites and he instructs. He confronts and he commissions. He loves and he lasts.
What she decided to do with that Truth would count for always. Rather than run from Truth, she drank deeply from his sacred ladle to know a lasting grace that would follow her into her always. It was an always that would soon transpire into a second ladle of grace, portioned out upon the soil of her past.
“Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I ever did.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. They said to the woman, ‘We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.’” (John 4:39-42).
Can you trace the power of a journey’s thirst that leads one to pause at a well? A pause that stops along the way to cast a penny’s hope into the sacred waters that stir with the breath of a Father’s intent? The Samaritan woman came with her emptiness. She left with a spring of water welling up within her to eternal life.
Eternity for her. Eternity for those who witnessed her transformation.
That is the way of sacred wishing and sacred waters. One cannot experience a taste of the Truth and leave as unchanged. God’s grace extended beyond her single ladle of refreshment to become a second helping of grace for those who knew her best. As it was for this Samaritan woman and her community so long ago, so it was for my household this past weekend.
I didn’t know there would be a P.S. added to A Penny’s Worth of Wishing—a second ladle of grace dipped from the same fountain that cradled my daughter’s wish for her Father to come and to reveal himself to her. One ladle was almost more than this mother’s heart could handle.
Almost.
But God is like that. He is a more than God. And when the well of Living Water touches the life of one, it ripples outward to touch the life of another. In this case, another named Jadon. Another I call son.
I would be remiss if I didn’t take time to script this P.S., for its worth far exceeds a penny’s throw. Its worth measures eternal.
My son has been walking around his sister’s salvation story for a couple of months now. She asked Jesus into her heart on Good Friday, and I chronicled her moment in a post entitled A Cradled Surrender. At that time, Jadon made some mumblings about a similar wanting, but because my son is prone to following…to impulsivity rather than conscious decision…I confess that I gave little credence to his words.
My heart was tender to his thoughts, but I wanted Jadon to come to his own conclusion in the matter of faith…to come into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ in his own time, in his own way, rather than riding on the coattails of his sister’s experience. That moment has come, and just yesterday, while sitting on the back porch steps with my son, he told me a story that is worthy of my pen.
Jadon told me about his moments at the wishing well. He had accompanied us on our field trip to find a well that would cradle our pennies’ worth of dreams, and while my attention was solely focused on Amelia making her wish, my little boy was making one of his own.
“Mommy, I asked God into my heart at the wishing well the other day.”
“What does that mean to you, son?”
“I know he is here in my heart. All four pennies were worth everything.”
Brief words. Powerful in their impact.
Enough said. Enough time for him to come to his own conclusion in the matter. Enough words to silence this mother’s misgivings and to finally embrace the tender declaration of a son’s wish.
We talked further, and then we prayed a prayer of firm commitment.
How could I have known that a trip to a wishing well would mean one thing to one child, and then, in turn, would mean everything for another child? That is the power of a journey’s thirst that leads a soul to the ladling from God’s sacred well. A drink from the fountain of Living Water always exceeds the parameters of a single wish. It spills forth onto everyone within range.
Sacred ladling…
Reveals Truth. Reshapes hearts. Renews perspective. Revives the dying. Rewrites forever.
First and second helpings. Thirds and fourths and beyond. One P.S. after another until all the world has been given the opportunity to drink. You and I, even Jadon and Amelia, host the eternal waters of our living God as he churns within our frame. He is meant for the overflow. He is meant for the spilling. We all have been given the sacred trust of carrying his ladle to our near and to our far…to our moments that exist ahead of this one.
To cast his life’s wish into the fountain of humanity so that all people can fully know and boldly proclaim that he really is…
the Savior of the world who readily receives our four pennies worth of wishing and showers us, in return, with the gift of everything.
And so I pray…
Thank you, Father, for a second ladling of grace… for the times when your working exceeds my visioning. Thank you for the ladles that will come to others through my life and through the lives of my children. Keep our quenching to the eternal waters of your filling. Let our taste for the world drink bitter while our taste for You drinks sweet. You, alone, are worthy of every wish of my heart. May your name be glorified and lifted up because of our time spent at your well this week. Amen.
Copyright © May 2008 – Elaine Olsen. All rights reserved.
Well Spent Livin’
“I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone ‘like a son of man,’ dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.” (Rev. 1:12-15).
OK…it’s now official. My older sons are hereby no longer going to the movies with their way too emotional mother…
Ever again.
We have just returned from seeing Prince Caspian, and I, by far, was the most openly expressive participant in the movie theatre.
It really doesn’t matter if you have read the book. I think I did somewhere in my distant past, but quite frankly, I’ve never quite made it past the enchantment of the The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. But this adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ book to the silver screen trumps the Wardrobe. The graphics are incredible, and while I could do without some of the comedic license given to talking mice, I thoroughly engaged with the movie through my emotional and spiritual lenses.
It’s not a new story. Good verses evil, with good winning out in the end. But it was the good ending of this particular story that nearly sent me into audible shouts of hallelujahs and hands raised in praise.
Nearly.
I remembered the two boys next to me and restrained my response by grasping my mouth, while allowing the free fall of tears to wet my shirt. They simply nudged one another (as if they knew it was coming) and handed me a napkin.
In one of the final scenes, the battle reaches its climax on a bridge over rushing waters. Aslan, the Lion, sounds his voice with a deafening roar, forcing all within earshot to take notice. All.
Created beings and created earth.
It was then that my Charlton Heston, Ten Commandments kind of moment arrived. I knew it was coming for I could hear the stir of the waters even as they crescendoed in response to the sound of Aslan’s voice. From the North, and with the fury of a Savior’s beckoning, the water found its way to the battle line. It didn’t come alone, but rather it came with the visual imprint of a face within its engulfing wet, representing the witness of my God’s presence.
I don’t remember much about the rest of the movie. My heart and my thoughts remained suspended in that scene for the final minutes of the film. However, this one scene was enough to catapult Prince Caspian into the category of money well spent. It is a good scene to remember, for with its remembrance comes a rich metaphor of how a life can catapult its way into the category of well-spent.
A well-spent life is a life lived in the truth of who our God is.
A rescuing God. An awe-inspiring Creator who belongs to our battles because a Savior has made a way. A soon and coming King whose voice commands the surrender of all creation.
Not a wimpy God. Not an unconcerned Creator. Not a God who turns away from the cries of his children as they face the toughest battles of their earthly existence. Not a cruel God who limits his love only to the good and to the righteous.
No, my God is a consuming God. He is the finisher of the battle. The final Word that trumps ours. He is the Wind and the Waves. The Fire and the Flood. He is the First and the Last. The Love and the Grace. And at the end of the day, as we stand on the bridge of our climax, all that really matters is that our souls breathe in unison with living, breathing Water who arrives on our scene…at just exactly the right time…to usher us into our next.
He is the One who brings a shout to my heart this day. For all of the other reasons to find some joy, there is none better than Him.
Now…I don’t know about you, but I certainly think a hallelujah is in order. And just in case you haven’t seen the movie…no need to worry. God’s Word is enough to script your heart with a similar response and to catapult your journey into the category of a life well-lived.
“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has the name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:11-16).
My sons may never want to go to another movie with me, but as long as they make the final journey with me, we’re good to go.
Give yourself a treat this week. Go see Prince Caspian. Greater still, go and visit our God on the pages of his holy Word. Either way, it is time well spent, and you just might find your hallelujah in the process!
As always,
19 Years of Nick
A First Born…Nicholas Evan
Not to be outdone by his mother, my son decided to make his entrance into the world on the heels of my birthday. Nineteen years ago, I experienced…
Life interrupted!
And I have spent the better part of two decades trying to unravel this mystery named Nick. So in the vein of yesterday’s celebration of my 42 years, I want to dedicate this post to my eldest son and to some of the lesser known 19 wonderful legacies that he has scripted and is scripting onto the pages of humanity.
1. Nicholas (meaning “victorious people”) and Evan (meaning “young warrior”). His is a strong name…well fitting for this first born whose strong will was evident from day one.
2. Nicholas is a young man after God’s own heart. Nick accepted Christ when he was six years old and has been walking as his Father’s child ever since.
3. Nicholas has dreams of sitting behind the desk at the ESPN studio. By age three, Nick had mastered the television remote and would crawl downstairs before the rest of the world was awake to get his morning fix of sports’ statistics. (I’m not kidding!).
4. Like his mother, Nicholas bleeds Kentucky Wildcat blue. The lines are strongly divided in our house over the matter. Go UK! Boo Tarheels!
5. Nick is a big brother to three others. Big can sometimes mean annoying, but most days it means…loving, fun, playful, and protective. Colton, Jadon, and Amelia all have strong connections with their brother.
6. Nick is considerate…he holds doors, he says “thank-you” and “yes ma’am”, and he buys flowers for his mother.
7. Nick is conservative in life, but liberal in his expression.
8. Nick is quiet on the outside, deep on the inside.
9. Nick has made straight A’s his entire life, rarely cracking a book to do so!
10. Nick is singularly focused, but does so through a wide-angle lens.
11. Nick has a serious mind, tempered by a wild and wicked sense of humor.
12. Nick is handsome and filled with charm that oozes through his dimples. Watch out girls…
13. Nick has a business-like approach to life without denying the mysterious.
14. Nick possesses courage, tempered by his convictions.
15. Nick is loyal—a good friend to many…a best friend to a few.
16. Nick has the golden touch. He excels at life.
17. Nick is honest, with a conscience to match.
18. Nick loves his “paps” (i.e. my dad) and his “paps” loves him right back.
19. Did I mention that Nick is strong-willed? Yes…I think I did. He befits his name, and for every ounce of heartache that came to me because of that “will”…it has now produced a man who has consigned his “will” to the will of his Creator. Just as strong as it ever was, sanctified now toward all things sacred.
And one to grow on…
One of Nick’s recent favorite songs is a tune by Charlie Hall entitled “Marvelous Light”. Nick’s been running toward that “light” for 19 years. It’s been my joy and privilege as his mother to run alongside. So Nick…this one’s for you dear one. You are my heart! ~mom
