Looking into the week and Patrick

Well, this brings us to the beginning of another week! Mom, Dad, my older sister, her husband and four kids are preparing to awaken and make their way to a Philadelphia airport to finally fly south to visit my family here in B'ham. I must admit a significantly high level of excitement when considering the fact that by this time tomorrow I shall have my parents and a sibling here with some extended family. I simply cannot wait.

Mom has been keeping me abreast of their adventures in Philly since they had planned only to stop there long enough to catch a plane and zip down to the sunny south only to have their flight stopped by an ice storm (thankfully before they boarded their flight). It seems that the King Tut exhibit was in the area up there and my parents, my sister and her family were able to see this exhibit with my younger sister and her small family. There are times when I wish we were closer to my family, but God has us here in Alabama for a reason.

My favorite thing to do with meals is to tackle certain issues of theology and Christian life with my kiddos. This past weekend we discussed Saint Patrick. As is common for those outside the Church my Middlesweet's school teacher focused on the green and leprechauns that seem to pervade the world's view of Saint Patrick's life. I couldn't just leave the meaning of the day to that so we discussed the life the man of God.

Given the fact that I was raised Baptist, a denomination that has been at violent odds with the Roman Catholic church for centuries, I never did care for any "Saint" that they designated. But as I have read of Patrick's life I realized that he was what I would consider a true man of God. There may be aspects of his ministry that cause me concern, but I question some of Martin Luther's nonessential theology as well. The fact is that Patrick returned to the land of the people who cruelly enslaved him and taught them about the One True God whose Holy Spirit powerfully used this one man to change the history of the Irish Isles.

When I explained to my kids that this one man, through the power of the Holy Spirit, changed history by being a missionary my son's eyes grew large and he questioned- "One man did all this just with God's help?" The answer was yes, but the real question that Buddy was asking was "Is it possible that I could do the same thing?" We rarely realize that our importance as individuals can be as far reaching as the man we know as Saint Patrick. One account that I have read of his life states that Patrick returned to the land of his captors after his escape to his home island to simply express his forgiveness and tell his former captors of Christ's work on the cross. From that simple beginning the story of the Irish Isles and the world has changed. One family legend has it that my ancestors were converted and forced out of Ireland because of their faith. That may mean that Patrick made it possible for me to be who I am today. You and I may not be called to be the Patricks in our world, but what about that one life full of bitterness and hurt that we reach and teach to forgive? You never know where your prayerful obedience will lead.

Here is the sweetest four-year-old that exists in this moment looking at me while her soccer coach gives the devotional last Saturday during their soccer practice. I call her "Ladybug". This is her first year in soccer, and her older brother is enjoying his fourth year in Briarwood soccer. It is amazing how these kids grow up. Ladybug's older sister, who is turning six in a couple weeks really doesn't seem to care for soccer, she likes her ballet and gymnastics.All I know is that these three are a delight.

My son's Cub Scout troop was meeting last night but I opted to skip this time (our first skip since we started) just to get some time in with all of us together. This is my spring break at UAB and it is nice to have an evening when I am not at class or catching up on sleep I lost from being at class earlier in the day. We played a bit and then the three kids and I watched "America's Funniest Home Videos" that I had recorded from Sunday night. It was fun just giggling and chortling at all the antics on the screen.

Check out this month's section in flicker (http://www.flickr.com/photos/themathers/sets/72157594587271584/) to see more pictures of my sweet family. Here are some more samples.

I think I will pay for this last one.

Love ya Wonderful!!

Hope

Hope is an asset that increases in value as one uses it.