I need to remind myself why I'm doing a Jesse Tree because my cat seems bent on the idea of destroying it. While trying to focus on the Old Testament's sequence of events leading to Jesus, I've run the vacuum three times cleaning up the spilled dirt and re-planting the branches. It's difficult to preserve the faith building purpose of this exercise when all I really want to do is sell the cat!
But I think I have kitty-proofed the tree - It's now in a much larger pot with over 40 pounds of rocks.
On to today...
Reading: Genesis 6:11-22, 7:17-8:12, 20-9:17
Symbol: Ark or a rainbow
Person: Noah
Event: The Flood
The flood story has recently become a much richer idea for me. We all know it - God asked Noah to build an ark; something that surely cause his neighbors to ridicule him, for who in their right mind would build a boat in the middle of the desert?
Do you sometimes feel that way too? That following God's plan for your life, living by the Ten Commandments, the beatitudes, following the lessons of Jesus' parables leaves you marked as an oddball? I recently received an email from a fellow homeschooling family asking for support. Their 13-year old son had called them 'the worst parents in the world' because he doesn't have his own cell phone, lap top computer or any video game device. His parents are Noah-like: building an environment for their children that will carry them on God's waves over the desert of this world.
(Here's another question...If Noah's neighbors teased him because he built an ark, are there ever moments that we have ridiculed others because we don't understand why they do what they do? Just some food for thought...)
Some people question if the Flood story really happened. Was it just as it's written in the bible or is this simply a parable to show us God's unrelenting promise to never destroy the world? In my opinion, focusing on the truth of the story is missing the point. Look at the times in our lives when we are flooded: extreme debt, losing a job, troubles in marriage, illness, teenagers - all these times in our lives threaten to sweep us away. But if we turn to God in our moments of trouble, we will find that our souls will be lifted on his love. His promise to protect us from all evil doesn't mean that our lives will be preserved from harm, but that our souls will.
If there is any doubt of this, imagine Noah and his family during their time on the ark. Hundreds of animals, thousands of pounds of food...which leads to thousands of pounds of clean-up duty. (This will be particularly applicable if you have teenagers!) It was a messy job. They were cramped and tired and completely frustrated by the living conditions. But they did it because God asked it of them. And they were rewarded with both their lives and land.
And I'm complaining about 1 curious cat! I think I need to change my attitude :)
Today, as I wash dishes, homeschool my children, change diapers and perform the duties of a mother, I will lift my heart to God. To be who God wants me to be requires me to do all things with a happy heart. Yes, it will be a challenge, but I have plenty of role-models in the bible to show me how.
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