Good Son-Day!!!
A Balmy Christmas Eve
My First Quagmire
Jo and I will share stories of our past before we met each other. Most of it centers on how we were reared by our parents. At about eight or nine years old, my father had one of those dad to son talks. He looked me squarely in the eyes and with a stern tone he clearly and emphatically directed me to never put my hand on any female. Period! Words to live by. He said walk away, nothing good will ever come out hitting a female even if you are protecting yourself. Just ask Jonathan Majors, who alleged he was protecting when he clocked his girlfriend who was the aggressor. I have passed on this same to my son.
On the first day of fourth grade at St.Joseph’s elementary school, I arrived at class early. I wanted to connect with classmates I had not seen all summer. The class sizes back in the day were less than 30; so, I knew everyone. I sat in the first row and third column from the blackboard.
I was having a rich conversation with my buddy Greg White. Five minutes before class starts,enters a girl I’ve never seen before who was lanky and a little taller than the other kids in class. She makes a beeline straight to my desk. Without any cordial greetings, she barks, “Get out of my chair!”
Dumb ol’ me thought a cute response was in order and a response you figure I would, “Hmmmm, I don’t see name on the desk or seat”. I was doing the Texas stand your ground tactic. The entire class scurried to the perimeter of the classroom. At that moment, I think someone said “unleash—the— Krakken!” because this girl bombarded me with multiple rounds of jabs, haymakers, uppercuts, roundhouses, lead hooks, and of course, the female favorite the kick between the legs.
Unfortunately, my father had not taught the gentlemanly art of fisticuffs yet. In situations like this, the survival approach is fight or flight. I could not hit her. I heard my dad’s voice. All I could do was cover my head and lower torso and exit stage right. After a strategic retreat from the said seat, I found an open seat in the back. While licking my wounds, Greg White comes to me, “Man, why did you pick Kim Scroggins’ seat?”
“Wait, what?”, I answered. “Yeah dude, she sat there last year. She was held back for a year”. With a bruised face and trying to muster some semblance of dignity, I looked at Greg with some aggravation and said, “Greg why didn't you tell me that while we were talking before she arrived? He replies, “I thought everyone knew about Kim Scroggins. She’s a wildcat”.
Well, I came to find out later that the entire Scoggins family was the scourge of the projects. We lived in the projects at that time and they were “that family” where the police would visit each week.
Upon arrival at the homestead after a hectic day, I shared the day’s event with the “Rents” and thinking I would be hailed as a hero, I received yet another lickin’ for not defending myself—-------Huh?? I was a lose-lose, sticky, muddy, quagmire for me. What was the right thing for me to do?
I followed the sound teaching. A teaching that stands the test of time. Restating Dad, “Never hit a woman. Period!”
Do I abandon righteous teaching when things get tough or do I render evil with evil? My teaching says otherwise in 1 Peter 3:9, Do not render evil for evil, or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and He will grant you His blessing.
As we settle into Christmas, think about what Christ had endured and did not deserve. Our history could have been an “Avengers: Endgame” ending. With a Word He brought us in and at the first of 39 lashes, with just a Word, He could have ended us. Instead, He modeled His name, Jesus (Hebrew: Yeshua–-Joshua, which means Savior) Christ (Greek: Chriro or Christo which means anointed—dedicated to God).
You too are anointed to model what Jesus Christ has instilled in you.
1 Corinthians 1:21-22
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, and He has identified us as His own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.
This holiday season please be a blessing to us all, by executing your anointing by modeling Christ, the anointed savior. God Son-Day!!!
Song of the Week. Hallelujah! Sing a New Song to GOD. Sing HIS praise in the assembly of godly people. Psalm 149:1
“Calling My Name”, 2023, Madison Ryann Ward
Another smooth song for sipping tea in your breakfast nook while reading the newspaper. An easy listen, but very inspirational.
[Chorus]
Callin' my name
I hear you callin’ my name, callin' me out of my shame
Take it away, you show me I'm not the same
Talkin’ 'bout how you reclaim me
Holdin' me like I'm a baby
Every day, ah, ah-ah
[Verse 1]
Help me with my unbelief
This gonna preach, say I'm forgiven and free
This is another degree, who, me?
You really talkin' to me?
I'ma get outta the way
Feelin' like runnin’ away
But you steady chasin’ me down now
[Pre-Chorus]
What was lost, you found
You brought me back around
Love is callin' out
Oh, how sweet the sound
Yeah
[Chorus]
Callin’ my name
I hear you callin' my name, callin' me out of my shame
Take it away, you show me I'm not the samе
Talkin’ 'bout how you reclaim me
Holdin' me likе I'm a baby
Every day, ah, ah-ah
[Verse 2]
You say that you will not leave
This is not hide and go seek
Finders keepers
You are the love when I'm weak
I'm the sheep and you're the shepherd
Everything is gettin' better
To your spirit, I am tethered
Your remind me of your love forever and ever
[Outro]
What was lost, you found
You brought me back around
Love is callin' out
Oh, how sweet the sound (Yeah)
What was lost, you found
You brought me back around (Brought me back around)
Love is callin' out (Callin' out)
Oh, how sweet the sound
Yeah
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