Take Courage!

While up at Duke we have been staying with Andrew's B.F.F from childhood and his family. They have a super cute house out in the country in Hillsborough. We've loved the wide open spaces. I keep wanting to bust out in that Dixie Chicks song- I'm a dork, I know! Anyway, it has been fun to spend time with them. A highlight has been watching Oliver and their son Maverick (7 years old) play together. Maverick is so sweet with Oliver and you can tell Oliver loves the attention.

From an article on Tim Keller's Blog:

"For Christians do not place their hope in their children, but rather their children are a sign of their hope . . . that God has not abandoned this world." (Hauerwas, p.191)

It is tempting in moments like this (3 hours till we get potentially life altering results at the appt.) to put my hope and my identity in Oliver (or his health). It so easy to allow my days to be "good" or "bad" based on his situation. I know that real contentment isn't found in being continually thrown off by ever changing circumstances. I'm praying the "waves" of these coming hours won't take my eyes off of Him who is unchanging and everlasting--that my faith would be strong.

But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." "Lord if it is you," Peter said, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

Matthew 14:27-31