Tag Archives: laughter

The Sound of Music

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As my class has gone on summer break, I am excited to write once more, until we start up again in September. In addition, I am even more excited to write about such a wonderful subject. Dads!

Dads come in all different shapes and sizes, with many different personalities, careers and hobbies. As I think about the word Dad, I know I’m very blessed to have one who is such an awesome reflection of our heavenly Father. My dad has always been there for me, showering me with the greatest gifts of his love. Throughout the years, he continually brings me peace. He is a great protector, and his wisdom and sense of humor has always filled me with a joyful heart and laughter.

When I was a teenager, my dad would often come home and knock on the locked side door. It only drove me crazy because he walked past the front door which was open, and now I would have to stop what I was doing, to get up and open the door. One day, a friend called. She told me that the night before, her Mom and Dad were at a wedding, and her dad had a heart attack on the dance floor and died. She was very sad, knowing that she would never see him again. As we hung up, there was that knock at the door, only it sounded so different this time. It was now the most beautiful music I ever heard. There was my dad at the door.

Each and every day, our heavenly Father knocks on the door in the same way, waiting for us to get up, open the door, and let Him in. In the book of Revelation 3:20 we read, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Jesus taught us in Luke 11:2, that when we pray, we should open our prayer with, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.” He also asked a question in Luke 11:11-13, “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, sinful people, 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!”

 It is my prayer that this Father’s Day, we all open the door to the most beautiful sound of music we will ever hear. That is the sound of our heavenly Father who loves us more than we could ever imagine. The One who cares for us more than we ever could deserve, whose words are true, faithful, and trustworthy. The One who made all the delicate, inner parts of our body as He knitted us together in our mother’s womb, as said in Jeremiah 1:5, “I knew you before I formed you in the womb,” Our Father in heaven is all deserving of our praise and worship. Holy is the Lord God Almighty. Yes, the earth is filled with His glory. So, open that door, and together let us celebrate a Happy Father’s Day!

Blessings always,
Deanna Danielle

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Lil’ Stories, Big Lessons

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As we gathered around on the class rug, I shared a story about three women who were arguing over the best way to pray. In the story, one woman said, “The best way to pray is on your knees.” Another woman said, “It’s best to be praying while you are standing.” The third woman said, “It is definitely best to pray while laying down.” As they shared their views, a gentleman working on the telephone lines over-heard them arguing.

“Ladies,” he interrupted, “You have it all wrong.” He proceeded to tell his story; “Do you see this pole? Three weeks ago, I was fixing the wires at the top, when I slipped. On my way down, head first, one of the loose wires wrapped around my ankle. I was hanging 10 feet off the ground, upside down. I know for a fact, that is the position you pray your best in!” To my surprise, the boys in our class thought this was the best story. Through their giggling voices, all they keep saying was, “Tell it again, tell it again.” I guess slapstick comedy never goes out of style.

When we think about the moral of this story, it holds great truth. Sometimes we spend a lot of time bickering over things, while forgetting the most important parts. In this case, it is not how we pray, but that we pray. With that, may we, like my 1st grade boys, find the joy and laughter in our everyday. May we never loose the child that lives within us.

Jesus used many parables as a means of illustrating profound, divine truths. I remember one year while teaching an 8th grade class, I read to them, Matthew 18:12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?” One of my students responded, “He’s selfish.” Taken a back by his response, I said a little prayer for God to give me the right words. With that, I smiled and said, “You are right. God is selfish for you and me. He will go all the miles to find us, because we are that important to Him. Even if it meant going to the Cross.

A reading from Matthew 18:1-4 “At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And He said, “Truly, I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

It has been said that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Lil’ Stories, Big Lessons.

May God bless you always.

Deanna Danielle

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