Tonight was our middle son’s Birthday party.  We invited his friends and their family members to come swimming with us – something we love to do year-round as a family.  There were about ten kids there and almost as many parents.  I sat back at one point and watched the simple acts of love that these people were expressing towards my son.  Someone would let him swim to them after he made a dramatic dive off the edge of the pool.  Another person would sit next to him while he ate a cookie and drank some juice.  Yet another friend would bring him a present and make it clear that they got the gift especially for him on his birthday.  These simple acts of love fill me with joy.  I love to see other people loving my children.  I’ve noticed ever since we had our first child that our friendships were the deepest and most meaningful with those who not only wanted relationship with me and my wife but were willing to extend significant relationship to our boys.  The fact that people would warmly accept this new member of our friendship circle has at times surprised me.  Is their relationship and love for our children an extension of their love and relationship to us?  In some cases it is very clear that there is something almost independent about our friends care for and affection towards our boys.  What a blessing!

The Creator of Heaven and Earth feels the same way.  He can not enter into relationship with those who do not accept, love, and come after His son.  He must also be filled with joy when he sees the true love that His people express towards His son.  We are only able to have communion with the Father when we are in relationship to the Son.  He really is the only way, the only truth, and the only life.  No one will ever come to the Father accept through Him.  I am thankful for all of those in our community who love my children and I know that our God appreciates and looks with joy on those who love His only Son.

Blessings to you ~ Steadman

For more than seven years I’ve been eating breakfast with a group of men from our church every Friday morning.  I’ve mentioned before on this blog just how special that time is and over the years what a wide variety of topics we have discussed in these early morning conversations.  This morning as I was getting dressed to head out for my early morning Friday breakfast my 5 year old son came in to the room still groggy from sleep.  “Papa, I want to come with you this morning and eat some pancakes with you and your friends.”  Men, if you find yourself naming an excuse and saying no to requests like this, you need to do some serious soul searching.  I was quick to encourage my son to come along.  I kissed my wife good morning and shared with her the news that our son would be coming along with me to breakfast.  We walked into the restaurant and the other gentlemen that were there quickly greeted my son like he was one of the old timers.  I was one proud Papa this morning.

As I thought back on this experience later in the day, it dawned on me how our Heavenly Father must feel when one of his sons or daughters awakes early in the morning anxious to come along side Him, to be with Him, to fellowship with Him.  I, too, have woken early desiring to be with my God.  I have risen in the morning, sleepy, and groggy, but aware of His presence and desirous to start my day with Him.  Our Lord and God must be pleased when his children wake with prayers of praise on their lips, with songs of thanksgiving in their hearts, and with a hunger for His Word.  Remember that His mercies are new every morning.  Remember that this is the day that the Lord has made.  Remember that when we wake and when we rise He is there. May you rise early and look for your Abba Father asking Him if you can come along wherever He is going. 

Blessings to you ~ Steadman

The holidays provide even more opportunity for us to spend time just hanging out with friends. The pace of our lives in Greensboro actually affords quite a bit of time to enjoy socializing with other families – something we have come to love and appreciate. I’ve always known that I was an extravert. I get excited when people drop by unannounced, I love talking to strangers, I’d rather spend time with people as a way of chilling out than spending time alone. So for me, the holidays are always a welcomed time simply because I know I will get to see and talk to lots of folks that I love. My wife has always considered herself to be an introvert until just recently. Last night she commented about how revived she felt and energizing it was to spend time with our friends. Ten years ago a few hours of a typical social setting would have been pretty exhausting for her. Listening to her describe the difference and pondering whether her preferences had really changed, I began to wonder if it had to do with her or more to do with our friends. So what was different about last night from some of those people experiences a decade ago? Last night it was on relatively short notice that we were invited over for a spaghetti dinner with friends who live just north of Greensboro. Did it have something to do with the unplanned, more spontaneous nature of the event? We packed up the three boys in the station wagon and drove up sort of tired from a long day of Christmas shopping, work, errands, etc. I noticed that there was something very comfortable about the evening and in retrospect I think that whatever made me comfortable was somehow connected to Alyssa feeling refreshed rather than drained after the evening was over. I’ve felt this comfort before but I think the fact that we now have three children means that the comfort was more important to me than it had been in the past. I can describe the feeling more easily by naming what I did not feel rather than specifically what I did feel. I didn’t feel anxious – about the time, about my children’s behavior, about doing the right thing or saying the right thing. I felt very at home. There was no agenda. I was just able to relax, let go of any insecurities I might have, and just be myself. I think Alyssa probably felt the same. I think this was what made the difference. What I want most of all is to be able to cultivate relationships where other people feel this comfort around me and around my family. I believe that Jesus had the ability to put people at ease. Can you imagine sitting in the presence of a man with His knowledge and understanding of the Old Testament Scriptures, to sit at the feet of someone who performed miracles in your midst day after day, to feel comfortable before someone who you truly believed to be the Messiah, the Son of the living God, the Great I Am? And yet, we find the disciples of Jesus talking in his presence and comfortable enough to argue about ridiculously petty things, willing to drop their guard and expose their faults. Jesus washed their feet at one point… how comfortable would you have to be to allow someone to wash your feet? I think there is something Christ-like about putting people at ease. We need to figure out how it is that we may make people feel guilty, self-conscious, judged, less than, and anxious and get these things under control. Jesus teaches us to live in such a way as to put others interests first. I want people to feel comfortable, to feel at home, and to go away revived and energized after spending time with me and my family. I’m thankful for friends that have this effect on me and I think they set a wonderful example in the way they live their lives. Blessings to you ~ Steadman