05 October 2005 Devotion for Today "Days Like These" Psalm 116
I want to share with you a "rerun" of 08 December 2000 devotional which
I have entitled, "Days Like These." This took place in Germany on one
I have entitled, "Days Like These." This took place in Germany on one
of the military bases there if you are wondering about all the terms used.
I hope you enjoy it.
I hope you enjoy it.
Ah there's nothing like the feeling like you get when you are crunched for time,
when there are school programs every other night, and you find yourself
at Budget King eating a hamburger again because there's no time to go
home, get the kids fed, and get back in time for the holiday program
at 6:00 pm.
when there are school programs every other night, and you find yourself
at Budget King eating a hamburger again because there's no time to go
home, get the kids fed, and get back in time for the holiday program
at 6:00 pm.
Consider the pre-holiday day from-well I can assure you it didn't come
from heaven! This description is rather long, so please bear with me.
There was a school Christmas concert planned at the
elementary school at 6:00 pm. Of course, there was also cub scouts,
and the usual Thursday routine. I was to remember to bring the boy's
suits which they could change into after the cub scout meeting and
get them fed and over to the school after the meeting gets out at 5:30pm.
No problem. I arrived at the school that afternoon to pick up the boys
at 2:30, driving over to mailroom to pick up a huge Christmas package
sent by my parents. The trunk lid would not go shut but I forced it
down, anyway. I hope there were no breakables inside, I thought.
from heaven! This description is rather long, so please bear with me.
There was a school Christmas concert planned at the
elementary school at 6:00 pm. Of course, there was also cub scouts,
and the usual Thursday routine. I was to remember to bring the boy's
suits which they could change into after the cub scout meeting and
get them fed and over to the school after the meeting gets out at 5:30pm.
No problem. I arrived at the school that afternoon to pick up the boys
at 2:30, driving over to mailroom to pick up a huge Christmas package
sent by my parents. The trunk lid would not go shut but I forced it
down, anyway. I hope there were no breakables inside, I thought.
Would there be time to feed the boys after the
scout meeting?, I thought. Probably not, let me find them something
to eat before the meeting. "But Dad, we just ate lunch at school, so
we're not hungry!" Why did you wait to tell me that after I just
bought you a nutritious soybean burger and a slurpee at the post
shoppette! Stress barometer climbing, we get back into the car and
arrive at the Scout Hut. "Dad, did you remember to bring my scout shirt?"
Asked one. No, I didn't. Why didn't you think of it this morning ?
Oh well, Few of the other kids are dressing out for the
meetings anyways, I thought. Besides I forgot mine, too and I still
had my shirt and tie and jacket I was going to wear to the concert
anyway. Just skip it. I forgot to recharge the video camera that morning, so I brought it with
me to recharge- good, I found a plug that will work 110 and 240 volts.
I wait for the den of Webelo scouts to arrive.
scout meeting?, I thought. Probably not, let me find them something
to eat before the meeting. "But Dad, we just ate lunch at school, so
we're not hungry!" Why did you wait to tell me that after I just
bought you a nutritious soybean burger and a slurpee at the post
shoppette! Stress barometer climbing, we get back into the car and
arrive at the Scout Hut. "Dad, did you remember to bring my scout shirt?"
Asked one. No, I didn't. Why didn't you think of it this morning ?
Oh well, Few of the other kids are dressing out for the
meetings anyways, I thought. Besides I forgot mine, too and I still
had my shirt and tie and jacket I was going to wear to the concert
anyway. Just skip it. I forgot to recharge the video camera that morning, so I brought it with
me to recharge- good, I found a plug that will work 110 and 240 volts.
I wait for the den of Webelo scouts to arrive.
In the meantime, my wife gets off work and takes my daughter to the
hair salon for their hair appointments. No go, the beautician is home
sick with the flu. What to do until 6:00? I'll drive over the PX on
the main Kaserne and feed Jinger and that's one less thing Jeff will
need to do. She drives over to the kaserne. The light changes at the
main intersection, but the turn lane does not. Thinking it was time
to proceed, my wife accidentally plows into the car ahead of her. The
damage was very slight, and thankfully no one was injured, but the
driver of the other car gets out and lets loose with pre-holiday rage,
ranting and raving, cursing and abusing for five minutes until the MP's
arrive. My wife is in tears by this point.
hair salon for their hair appointments. No go, the beautician is home
sick with the flu. What to do until 6:00? I'll drive over the PX on
the main Kaserne and feed Jinger and that's one less thing Jeff will
need to do. She drives over to the kaserne. The light changes at the
main intersection, but the turn lane does not. Thinking it was time
to proceed, my wife accidentally plows into the car ahead of her. The
damage was very slight, and thankfully no one was injured, but the
driver of the other car gets out and lets loose with pre-holiday rage,
ranting and raving, cursing and abusing for five minutes until the MP's
arrive. My wife is in tears by this point.
She calls me on the cell phone which I got for just such emergencies.
But when she calls, my cell phone battery goes dead and cuts off just
as she is trying to describe what had happened. We leave the scout
meeting, which went okay considering the boys had filled up on sugar
koolaid and chocolate candy prior to the meeting. One of the boys
threw a fit because he wasn't selected for a game we played. Come on,
5:30, I prayed.
But when she calls, my cell phone battery goes dead and cuts off just
as she is trying to describe what had happened. We leave the scout
meeting, which went okay considering the boys had filled up on sugar
koolaid and chocolate candy prior to the meeting. One of the boys
threw a fit because he wasn't selected for a game we played. Come on,
5:30, I prayed.
5:30 pm. Cleaning up from the scout meeting, Jared drops the remnants of
his slurpee cup into the bottom of the trash can. The contents splashed
a fountain of blue and red liquid out of the trash can and all over my
white shirt and khaki dress pants. Forget it, just go back and change your
clothes. I have my boys go to the back room of the scout hut to change
their clothes. I go to check on them. The door is shut, and I cant
open it. What's wrong with the door handle? I asked. "Dad, the door
handle came off and I can't get it back in. The door's locked! He
was right. The European door opener became separated. One door handle
fell out into the hall, while the one with the key bar attached to it
remained in my son's hand. He can't manage to get it back in so he can
get the door open. I thought, great! Now I will have to kick the door
in. They can't climb out the window because they have bars on them and
besides their suits will get dirty. Well, here goes, I'm going to have
to kick the door in, I guess. I can see myself having to explain this
to the BSB commander. Just as I squint and clench my teeth to prepare
a mighty blow, the door swings open just in time. Come on, lets get
dressed and get out of here!. My son's collar button is crooked and so
is the rest of his shirt. We gather up all their things to get to the
concert on time.
his slurpee cup into the bottom of the trash can. The contents splashed
a fountain of blue and red liquid out of the trash can and all over my
white shirt and khaki dress pants. Forget it, just go back and change your
clothes. I have my boys go to the back room of the scout hut to change
their clothes. I go to check on them. The door is shut, and I cant
open it. What's wrong with the door handle? I asked. "Dad, the door
handle came off and I can't get it back in. The door's locked! He
was right. The European door opener became separated. One door handle
fell out into the hall, while the one with the key bar attached to it
remained in my son's hand. He can't manage to get it back in so he can
get the door open. I thought, great! Now I will have to kick the door
in. They can't climb out the window because they have bars on them and
besides their suits will get dirty. Well, here goes, I'm going to have
to kick the door in, I guess. I can see myself having to explain this
to the BSB commander. Just as I squint and clench my teeth to prepare
a mighty blow, the door swings open just in time. Come on, lets get
dressed and get out of here!. My son's collar button is crooked and so
is the rest of his shirt. We gather up all their things to get to the
concert on time.
Driving out out of the kaserne, there is a lot of traffic. There has
been a bomb threat, and the front gate is closed. Sorry sir, says the
gate guard, you will have to drive to the other end of the kaserne and
use that gate. I turn around and drive all the way down there, to
discover that gate is close now because in the time that I drove down
to the back gate, the front gate is now open again. I wheeled around
and head back. We drive to the Argonner kaserne where the school is
located. Children and their parents are already arriving. I look, but
my wife is not there. No sign of her car anywhere. Can't use the cell
phone, the battery is dead. Then my oldest son taps on my shoulder,
"Dad, help me please. The concert's starting in twenty minutes and I
can't find my piano book!" Oh no, son, where did you last have
it "I don't know, I'm sure I put it in my backpack but now its not
there!" Well did you look in your music classroom, how about on the
piano? "I looked there already!" What about in the school office on
your mother's desk (This is where my wife also works). "I can't the
office is locked!" The principal arrived just about that time, "Yes
I'll open the door but please make it quick!" May I use the telephone
my cell phone is dead and my wife is not here yet and I don't know
what is keeping her. She nodds, frowning and shaking her head, and
walks away.
been a bomb threat, and the front gate is closed. Sorry sir, says the
gate guard, you will have to drive to the other end of the kaserne and
use that gate. I turn around and drive all the way down there, to
discover that gate is close now because in the time that I drove down
to the back gate, the front gate is now open again. I wheeled around
and head back. We drive to the Argonner kaserne where the school is
located. Children and their parents are already arriving. I look, but
my wife is not there. No sign of her car anywhere. Can't use the cell
phone, the battery is dead. Then my oldest son taps on my shoulder,
"Dad, help me please. The concert's starting in twenty minutes and I
can't find my piano book!" Oh no, son, where did you last have
it "I don't know, I'm sure I put it in my backpack but now its not
there!" Well did you look in your music classroom, how about on the
piano? "I looked there already!" What about in the school office on
your mother's desk (This is where my wife also works). "I can't the
office is locked!" The principal arrived just about that time, "Yes
I'll open the door but please make it quick!" May I use the telephone
my cell phone is dead and my wife is not here yet and I don't know
what is keeping her. She nodds, frowning and shaking her head, and
walks away.
In the meantime, teachers are arriving and stressing, "John you need to
get up to the music room right now the concerts on in 15 minutes!" My
son is in tears now, "I know but I can't find my book my dad's trying
to get a hold of my mom to find out where it is?" "Oh child, you need
to be more responsible than this!" she said, extremely stressed herself. She
was the music director of the children's holiday concert, "I'm sorry,
John, I didn't mean that the way it sounded. Just come up when you
are ready."
get up to the music room right now the concerts on in 15 minutes!" My
son is in tears now, "I know but I can't find my book my dad's trying
to get a hold of my mom to find out where it is?" "Oh child, you need
to be more responsible than this!" she said, extremely stressed herself. She
was the music director of the children's holiday concert, "I'm sorry,
John, I didn't mean that the way it sounded. Just come up when you
are ready."
In the meantime I my bloodpressure is steadily climbing skyward as I
overhear this conversation and as my wife answers her cell phone, she
is on the verge of tears herself. That was when she described the
accident to me. She is on her way, but no, I don't know where John's
book is, she says, "He will just have to play by ear. He knows that
song."
overhear this conversation and as my wife answers her cell phone, she
is on the verge of tears herself. That was when she described the
accident to me. She is on her way, but no, I don't know where John's
book is, she says, "He will just have to play by ear. He knows that
song."
Okay, everybody take a big deep breath. I take pity on my son who is
standing there. I stop to pray with him. "Dear God," I prayed, "You
know that the devil is doing all he can this year to ruin our Christmas,
but we are not going to let him. Help John right now, to do his best.
Help Mommy to get here safely. Help us all. Help us all to keep
focusing on Jesus."
standing there. I stop to pray with him. "Dear God," I prayed, "You
know that the devil is doing all he can this year to ruin our Christmas,
but we are not going to let him. Help John right now, to do his best.
Help Mommy to get here safely. Help us all. Help us all to keep
focusing on Jesus."
My wife arrived with my daughter. My other son, Jared, was skateboarding
in the parking lot-in the rain-with his new suit on and now his
shirt-tail is completely untucked and his hair is disheveled. But the
show must go on. No time to fix it as we scramble for a seat near the
front so I can use my video camera. I turn it on. The battery in it is
dead also, and the shutter clicks of as soon as I turn it on.
Somehow the battery did not hold a charge! Oh great! John gets up to
play, and does a marvelous job despite the fact that somewhere in the
deep recesses of that school a desk is holding a book hostage. The program,
in spite of everything, was very nice. The PTA holds a raffle for some
pottery and pointsettia plants. The numbers are drawn and called. Some
wise cracker says, "Hey, that's not fair! I demand a recount!"
in the parking lot-in the rain-with his new suit on and now his
shirt-tail is completely untucked and his hair is disheveled. But the
show must go on. No time to fix it as we scramble for a seat near the
front so I can use my video camera. I turn it on. The battery in it is
dead also, and the shutter clicks of as soon as I turn it on.
Somehow the battery did not hold a charge! Oh great! John gets up to
play, and does a marvelous job despite the fact that somewhere in the
deep recesses of that school a desk is holding a book hostage. The program,
in spite of everything, was very nice. The PTA holds a raffle for some
pottery and pointsettia plants. The numbers are drawn and called. Some
wise cracker says, "Hey, that's not fair! I demand a recount!"
Afterward, we go to Budget King-again-because Robin and Jinger did not
get to eat because the accident report took over an hour. I didn't get
to eat either, and the boys were hungry again anyway. We left there
and drove home in two separate cars. By now it is 9:30pm, and at first
I was tempted to just skip the advent devotions and lighting the advent
wreath which made our holiday evenings so special. But we turned on
the electric Christmas tree lights and lit the brass pyramide candle
chimes. The bells chimed softly as we prayed. That prayer time was
the thing that allowed us to sleep that night.
get to eat because the accident report took over an hour. I didn't get
to eat either, and the boys were hungry again anyway. We left there
and drove home in two separate cars. By now it is 9:30pm, and at first
I was tempted to just skip the advent devotions and lighting the advent
wreath which made our holiday evenings so special. But we turned on
the electric Christmas tree lights and lit the brass pyramide candle
chimes. The bells chimed softly as we prayed. That prayer time was
the thing that allowed us to sleep that night.
This morning I am reminded of Psalm 116 as I read: "I Love the Lord,
because He has heard my voice and my supplications. Because He has
inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I
live. The pains of death surrounded me, and the pangs of Sheol
laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow. Then I called upon the
name of the Lord: O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul." Gracious
is the Lord, and righteous. Yes, our God is merciful."
because He has heard my voice and my supplications. Because He has
inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I
live. The pains of death surrounded me, and the pangs of Sheol
laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow. Then I called upon the
name of the Lord: O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul." Gracious
is the Lord, and righteous. Yes, our God is merciful."
If you find your days going like this, whether they be the holidays or
not, pray this prayer of the psalmist and you will find that the end
of your day will be different than the rest of it. Have a blessed day.
not, pray this prayer of the psalmist and you will find that the end
of your day will be different than the rest of it. Have a blessed day.
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