I much preferred the picture of Him standing in front of a big log cabin door, where it portrays the idea "Behold, I stand at the door; all you have to do is ask, seek and knock" picture. Then I fell in love with the picture where he is standing on a rock, leaning over and extending his hand to the little children to help them climb up over the rocks. I have that picture somewhere in my computer and can't find it.
Artists always have him looking so serene and inviting. However, I never really knew what it was to have a "Jesus" life changing event come into my life until December of 1973. I spent most of my life as a youngster playing on both sides of the fence. I would get this music stand and a Bible and play preacher. Sing songs and talk to God, or so I thought. Then the next night I might be found reading ghost stories under the blanket and checking my future with an eight ball.
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When I realized it had been 40 years the other morning, I thought how can I pay tribute to the Lord God - my Savior and Holy Spirit Teacher. So I thought about my favorite places. And, who would listen to this story anyway. Evidently you are, but my special invites were to a special bunch of critters who have followed me to a cabin in the woods. If I had the time and money I would build it. For real! Up on the side of a small incline that over looks the lake at Lakewood. It would, of course have a fireplace (that somebody tends for me) and a wonderful cozy lazy-boy chair with a fuzzy blanket in tow. I am a passionate animal lover and so I thought I would tell them my story and you can listen in. My favorite animals would be a basket of long haired calico's, two female white and brown shih' tzu's, a baby lamb, a baby goat, two baby bunnies, and everyone has to have a fawn in their midst. I have just fixed a cup of green tea and we have all quietly settled into a listening mode.
Once upon a time there was this little girl named Faith who loved animals, and since she was an only child, her teacher, 4-H leader dad decided she should raise bunnies for her project at the 4-H fair. Her mother, on the other hand wanted her to be inside sewing on the "Joseph" coat she was to make for a pre-Christmas play at church. Being a strong willed young lady, she snuck out the back door and ran after her dad to see how to feed all the animals. They had kittens under the porch, and Yapper, first ever dog was running ahead. "Daddy, daddy, wait for me. She tried to make both her daddy and mother happy, and almost did it, except truth would have it she was much more interested in the barns and pig pens then in any old sewing machine. And, especially doing those silly Bible stories for Sunday school. You see, right there God had His hand on her life because she was still trying to ride both sides of the fence. Plus she enjoyed Ghost stories, and things that went bump in the night, black magic, the eight ball etc. When her mother what she doing up there, she would get the music stand out and play preacher for a little while. That went on until the year of her 8th grade. Then something very dark began to emerge. So, maybe it was that sudden move to town out by the college. They had college kids who rented their rooms. Her mother was secretary to the Dean of Students, her mother was getting her degree part time, and now she found herself chosen to be on the cheer leading team. Her new friend Linda and fellow cheer leader, also had a brother who was 17. He did seem to pay a little more attention then he needed to as far as she was concerned. She had spent most of her life on the farm, riding horse, feeding animals, showing them, playing in the woods, and this new completely different thing of living in the city was quite foreign. She had no grand parents, or cousins to hang out with and so who were these people anyway? It was about to turn out badly.
It was a typical sports night and the junior high team had just finished. It was time for the Varsity [and something they called a school dance afterwards. It was her first school dance. Still dressed in her cheer leader outfit she went up on stage and watched the girls pick someone to dance with as they got to choose first. Linda took her over to choose her brother Steve. Turns out he was a senior and wanting to date his sisters new friend. She danced with him three dances, grew bored and moved on.
Turned out her parents were there and stayed to watch. Linda her had offered to drive her home. Which turned into her brother driving Faith home. NO BIGGY! She got out, thanked him and went inside. Waiting for her there was World War III. She went up the stairs and was called to the master bedroom for her punishment. Punishment? For what? Faith listened in horror about how they had gone to the principal to find out who that guy was she was dancing with and he had helped the story along by noticing that Steve did come to her locker occasionally, and followed her down the hall. Sorry, she tried to even remember that happening. Nothing she said or did made any difference. Faith was grounded. Faith would be driven to school for two months and yadda, yadda, yadda. With great anger Faith turned on her heel and walked down the hall slamming her door!
SHE WAS NEVER THE SAME PERSON AFTER THAT NIGHT! continued!
(The baby deer blinked a good night, the goat was snoring, the kittens were piled in a heap, the shih tzu's were running in place after the bunnies who were sitting in my lap waiting to hear more)
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