monstauffer – Page 51 – Today's Legacy

I was listening to an audio reading of Genesis while I was folding clothes this morning. The children were playing together while the littlest napped, permitting me full attention to give to the listening amid the monotony of laundry.

And it hit my ears.

“Who told you that you were naked?” The narrator read with a tinge of desperation in his voice.

And through those words God reminded my heart of his desperation for mankind.

Sermons can and have been written on God’s compassion, willing Adam and Eve to confess their forbidden fruit sin. The Omniscient God did not need them to verbalize their sin. He already knew the question’s answer. But He gave them the opportunity to feel the relief of confession. The relief of releasing some of the guilt. Not adding salt to the wound by telling the truth.

But in that voice lies a deeper level. A deeper heartbreak chosen to be shouldered by the Ever-Loving Father. The disaster of the fall’s consequences had begun. And even though I wasn’t there, I think this audio Bible’s narrator got the tone just perfect. His desperation. His heartbreak for the newly lost mankind looking back at Him through the eyes of Adam and Eve. Never again to frolic in the garden together. Never again to share in closeness as before.

No, God doesn’t need us, dear friends. But here in His voice in This Genesis verse His heart pours out. He wants us.

Thank you, Lord, for still wanting us… even in the heat of our rebellion.

“Blessed” somehow fails to describe the depth of Your gift of adoption.

– Please, Lord, keep teaching my heart to listen to Your Voice.

She’s learned her first real word.

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“Hi”

And it’s the cutest thing coming over the crib rail first thing in the morning.
She is such a joyful delight!

– Adore her so.

Sometimes I look to this next step with a bit of anxiety. Maybe we’re asking too much of them. Maybe we’re requiring them to stretch too much. I mean, I know they’re adaptable but we are asking them to adapt in great extremes. What if it’s too much? What if they can’t find friends? Deep, real friends. And then I hear this from the back of the van.

And I realize that it’s not my responsibility.

HE is the Giver of community. HE is the binder of hearts.

He will continue to be more than enough.
– Thank you, Lord, for the reminder through their giggles.

This morning my oldest, Rachael, decided to make Abi a birthday present. She sat at the craft drawer for a while brainstorming. She gathered her supplies plus a few extras just in case. She sat at the table for a half hour compiling her gifts while Abi sat bright-eyed saying, “I love presents.” Rachael carefully spelled out her words in vibrant first grade markered fashion. And pieces fell all over the place as she fabricated a “birthday girl” button and board game out of craft scraps. Abi say quietly, viewing the final product.

I immediately got a little nervous that materialism might creep in and crush Rachael’s heart through Abi’s disappointment or unrealistic expectations. But instead this little voice of amazement arose as Rachael pinned on her shirt the fabricated button with a colorful paper clip. “This is a GREAT present,” she partially whispered in her excitement.

I love their little hearts. It was a sweet moment of affirmation and love to see on both of their faces. Such light in their eyes. Such delight in something so simple.

– Thankful, grateful and beyond blessed by our Lord.

Eden had her first Twinkie while on the missions trip.

I think she liked it.