Bless this Nest

This is Lou. He's the family chicken. My grandmother crocheted him and I couldn't part with him so now he's become the family mascot. He's had his picture taken in the dental chair (do chicken have teeth?), on road trips and at various gatherings.

The sign behind him says "Bless this Nest." The question I want to put to you today is "Do you bless YOUR nest?" That can be read about four different ways. I don't really mean are you a blessing to your nest, I mean do you actively ask God to bless your home?

With all the turmoil and angst I think that asking for our homes to be blessed is crucial. "Which of you, if his son asks for bread will give him a stone? ... If you know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him?" (Paraphrased by me, the full verses are in Matthew 7)

Even though God knows what we need or want, he takes delight in our asking. Think about your own children. When they ask and you're able to answer, or better yet, go beyond and surprise them your heart sings. God is a perfect parent. He will answer your requests. "Ask and it will be given to you; Seek and you will find; Knock and the door will be opened to you."

My nephew Dylan, when he turned six years old, wanted two gifts for his birthday, a cell phone and a credit card. While we all smiled, my brother, like me, believes that children need a cell phone for safety reasons and accommodated the first request. This year Dylan turned nine, and while he didn't get a "real" credit card, he got a Visa gift card. My brother never would have thought to get Dylan a cell phone until he asked and the credit card is more about timing. The point is ... he TRIED to meet his son's wants within reason.

God, on the other hand, doesn't have to be reasonable. He CAN meet our wants and desires. Sometimes we too wait the timing of the answers to our prayers but he always knows what's best for us. It seems hard to believe when someone we love is sick or dying, but if YOU had the power to take that sick child and wrap your arms around him to stop the suffering, how easy would it be for you to put him back on earth to suffer more when you had the power to take him Home where there is no more pain or suffering. Sometimes it's about what's best for one of his other children. As parents of children with disabilities, I think we understand that.

All of this pondering and meditation to say ... Go ahead, be bold, ask God to bless your home. Ask him to bless your family and your special child. Ask him, like a child, for outrageous blessings, love and joy. Ask him to pour out blessings on you that you haven't even thought to ask for.

God bless you and yours,

Much love and joy,

Karen