two little spiders sitting on a thread.
one says hi and the other turns her head.
one smiles wide and the other blows a kiss.
one gets closer but he's sure to miss.
he raises his arms and he spins around,
but he's soon to wind up on the ground.
he's never heard the story from his dad,
how he pulled the same moves just like he had.
he thinks he's smooth, he thinks he's slick,
but she's fixing to lure him into a trick.
once they're done and before he gets away,
she's got him by the throat and he'll never see the day
when his heirs will scurry all over the place
what a smile that would have been upon his face.
two little spiders sitting on a thread,
one says hi, but now he's dead.
For those who think this is a morbid story, well, it is. But it is a true story. Usually, after spiders mate, the female usually grabs the male and eats him just like any other bug it could catch. And unfortunately for the little male in the picture, the same thing happened to him. Normally, a female spider goes through several male suitors, and uses each opportunity to have a meal which will in turn give her the protein to help her produce more eggs for her future generation. In more ways than one, you could say that the male spider knows that he's helping to secure his future generation by his sacrificial death. In the same way, the mother garden spider soon dies after preparing her egg case in the late summer. Both are dedicated parents, doing what they must for their offspring. God blesses most of us with that same knowledge to raise and care for our offspring. Am I as dedicated and responsible as this family of spiders? As a father, do I give my all to my children? Do I help to secure their future by making the right decisions for them? Do I realize the importance of my duty and responsibility in training them up “In the Lord”? Am I there for them, as much as possible? Do I show them the same love that my heavenly father shows to me?
Sadly, my answer falls very short. I admit that I am not the perfect father. I am sometimes a selfish man, and at times consider what’s best for me, and not for my kids. So, all of these questions cause me to think, to make me consider, to bring about my guilt so that I can change – before it’s too late. Before my kids are grown up and gone away. Or worse, before I’m gone. That’s right, there’s no promise of tomorrow. I admittedly must do better toward my kids.
Read what is said about God in James 1:17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Our God – my God is the God of creation. He is the God who created the heavens. He is the God who created the earth. He is the God who created everything there is, everything I see, and everything I cannot see. He is the Father of lights. He is the Father of us all.
I must also learn and realize that my God and father is waiting on me. He stands ready for me, if I will but ask for His help. Do I have the same qualities that God does in this aspect? Am I always available to respond to my children? Or am I too busy to be interrupted? Read what is said about God in Luke 11:9-13. So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
I must also realize that my God and father wants what’s best for me – His child. He cares for me, He loves me, He teaches me, He corrects me. God is concerned when I do not act the way I should. God does allow me to make my mistakes, but he is always there to pick me back up, when I ask Him to. Remember the story about the Father and the two brothers. I must teach my children that I will always be there for them, as long as they are willing to live for God. Remember, the Father did not go after His son, but waited and watched daily for his son to come back home. It is very hard to watch and see our children make the wrong choices, just as it was for the Father to see his son make the wrong choice in his life.
Read what Jesus says in Revelation 3:19-20. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
Jesus does not say that he will barge in uninvited. But stands ready and waiting for the invitation, and once invited, he will come in and be with us. Discipline is not easy, and if done right will often times correct the erring child. The key is, “done right”. This is a struggle with me, as I tend to be too emotional instead of rational. Instead of thinking through with a plan of punishment that would bring about correction, I am too quick with punishment that often times brings about the wrong response. I am thankful that God is a just and merciful father. I am grateful for His examples. My goal is to be as close to being the same loving father that my Lord God is with me. When I sin, I can ask my Father God to forgive me, and He has promised me that He will. When my son does something to me, I must consider to treat him with the same loving response that God the Father gives to me.
In one small way, God the Father is just like that little bitty male garden spider. He has prepared the way for me to be the same father that He is. He has given me that chance and opportunity to have children, and to raise them up with love, and to teach them about His great gift that saves all of mankind.
one says hi and the other turns her head.
one smiles wide and the other blows a kiss.
one gets closer but he's sure to miss.
he raises his arms and he spins around,
but he's soon to wind up on the ground.
he's never heard the story from his dad,
how he pulled the same moves just like he had.
he thinks he's smooth, he thinks he's slick,
but she's fixing to lure him into a trick.
once they're done and before he gets away,
she's got him by the throat and he'll never see the day
when his heirs will scurry all over the place
what a smile that would have been upon his face.
two little spiders sitting on a thread,
one says hi, but now he's dead.
For those who think this is a morbid story, well, it is. But it is a true story. Usually, after spiders mate, the female usually grabs the male and eats him just like any other bug it could catch. And unfortunately for the little male in the picture, the same thing happened to him. Normally, a female spider goes through several male suitors, and uses each opportunity to have a meal which will in turn give her the protein to help her produce more eggs for her future generation. In more ways than one, you could say that the male spider knows that he's helping to secure his future generation by his sacrificial death. In the same way, the mother garden spider soon dies after preparing her egg case in the late summer. Both are dedicated parents, doing what they must for their offspring. God blesses most of us with that same knowledge to raise and care for our offspring. Am I as dedicated and responsible as this family of spiders? As a father, do I give my all to my children? Do I help to secure their future by making the right decisions for them? Do I realize the importance of my duty and responsibility in training them up “In the Lord”? Am I there for them, as much as possible? Do I show them the same love that my heavenly father shows to me?
Sadly, my answer falls very short. I admit that I am not the perfect father. I am sometimes a selfish man, and at times consider what’s best for me, and not for my kids. So, all of these questions cause me to think, to make me consider, to bring about my guilt so that I can change – before it’s too late. Before my kids are grown up and gone away. Or worse, before I’m gone. That’s right, there’s no promise of tomorrow. I admittedly must do better toward my kids.
Read what is said about God in James 1:17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Our God – my God is the God of creation. He is the God who created the heavens. He is the God who created the earth. He is the God who created everything there is, everything I see, and everything I cannot see. He is the Father of lights. He is the Father of us all.
I must also learn and realize that my God and father is waiting on me. He stands ready for me, if I will but ask for His help. Do I have the same qualities that God does in this aspect? Am I always available to respond to my children? Or am I too busy to be interrupted? Read what is said about God in Luke 11:9-13. So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
I must also realize that my God and father wants what’s best for me – His child. He cares for me, He loves me, He teaches me, He corrects me. God is concerned when I do not act the way I should. God does allow me to make my mistakes, but he is always there to pick me back up, when I ask Him to. Remember the story about the Father and the two brothers. I must teach my children that I will always be there for them, as long as they are willing to live for God. Remember, the Father did not go after His son, but waited and watched daily for his son to come back home. It is very hard to watch and see our children make the wrong choices, just as it was for the Father to see his son make the wrong choice in his life.
Read what Jesus says in Revelation 3:19-20. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
Jesus does not say that he will barge in uninvited. But stands ready and waiting for the invitation, and once invited, he will come in and be with us. Discipline is not easy, and if done right will often times correct the erring child. The key is, “done right”. This is a struggle with me, as I tend to be too emotional instead of rational. Instead of thinking through with a plan of punishment that would bring about correction, I am too quick with punishment that often times brings about the wrong response. I am thankful that God is a just and merciful father. I am grateful for His examples. My goal is to be as close to being the same loving father that my Lord God is with me. When I sin, I can ask my Father God to forgive me, and He has promised me that He will. When my son does something to me, I must consider to treat him with the same loving response that God the Father gives to me.
In one small way, God the Father is just like that little bitty male garden spider. He has prepared the way for me to be the same father that He is. He has given me that chance and opportunity to have children, and to raise them up with love, and to teach them about His great gift that saves all of mankind.
Am I listening to what God is saying in His Word?
It's so easy for me to get buried in the day-to-day demands of work, and look up to realize several weeks have gone by without the kind of meaningful interaction with my children that I would claim to believe in.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the reminder to give my all and do my best, for their interests, and not for my own.