As a Man Carries His Son
My husband, Tim, has been carrying children for a long time.
Since our youngest is eight, Tim's days of carrying our own children are largely past, though even now there are times on a long hike when he will suddenly scoop up our youngest son and give him a respite.
But happily, before he completely ran out of children to carry, grandchildren have arrived!
I've been thinking about the many times and ways that Tim has carried his sons and daughters because of a passage of scripture that has deeply impressed me the past several months. In the first chapter of Deuteronomy Moses is talking to the Israelites just before they enter the Promised Land. He reviews their history, reminding them of how their parents had quivered with fear after hearing the spies' report of the giants in the land. Moses continues:
This image of God tenderly carrying His people through the wilderness has been a powerful strength to me, one that I have returned to over and over. As I review our family's life, I can see where He has also done the same for us, carrying us and leading us not by a pillar of cloud and fire, but gently leading us the same.
And then, following this beautiful statement, Moses goes on to say, "But for all this, you did not trust the Lord your God." (Deut:1: 32)
Oh, what a sober warning! Isn't it wonderful that scripture both encourages and warns believers at the same time? May I live in the light of its truth.
Pictures:
1: Tim with baby Andrew 27 years ago in Columbia, SC
2: Kara on T's shoulder
3: Paul in fireman's carry in Canadian Rockies
4: Baby Paul and Tim at home
5: Tim, granddaughter Annie, Paul viewing the transit of Venus across the sun earlier this week
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| Sometimes with a carrier... |
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| Sometimes on his shoulders... |
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| Or maybe across his shoulders... |
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| And of course, in his arms. |
Since our youngest is eight, Tim's days of carrying our own children are largely past, though even now there are times on a long hike when he will suddenly scoop up our youngest son and give him a respite.
But happily, before he completely ran out of children to carry, grandchildren have arrived!
 |
I've been thinking about the many times and ways that Tim has carried his sons and daughters because of a passage of scripture that has deeply impressed me the past several months. In the first chapter of Deuteronomy Moses is talking to the Israelites just before they enter the Promised Land. He reviews their history, reminding them of how their parents had quivered with fear after hearing the spies' report of the giants in the land. Moses continues:
"Then I said to you, 'Do not be shocked, nor fear them. The LORD your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf, just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, just as a man carries his son, in all the way which you have walked, until you came to this place.'" (Deut 1:29-31)
This image of God tenderly carrying His people through the wilderness has been a powerful strength to me, one that I have returned to over and over. As I review our family's life, I can see where He has also done the same for us, carrying us and leading us not by a pillar of cloud and fire, but gently leading us the same.
And then, following this beautiful statement, Moses goes on to say, "But for all this, you did not trust the Lord your God." (Deut:1: 32)
Oh, what a sober warning! Isn't it wonderful that scripture both encourages and warns believers at the same time? May I live in the light of its truth.
Pictures:
1: Tim with baby Andrew 27 years ago in Columbia, SC
2: Kara on T's shoulder
3: Paul in fireman's carry in Canadian Rockies
4: Baby Paul and Tim at home
5: Tim, granddaughter Annie, Paul viewing the transit of Venus across the sun earlier this week
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