Character, Pt. II...”You forgot me!”

   This morning Kanga made herself heard.  “What about me?  I am concerned about Roo.  Where do I fit in?”
   How many of us are concerned for various reasons about our children, whether young, or grown with their own families? I dare say the answer is: most of the parents I’ve ever known. When friends pour out their hearts to me or offer up prayer requests, they’re most often about their children, no matter their age.
   This was the answer I received this morning: “The best way for Kanga to help Roo is to be Pooh.”
   Say what?? I had to laugh. However, when I thought about it, I understood what He was saying. We are not to become someone else. He loves who we are, our distinct personalities and eccentricities. But sometimes we grow from watching others’ relationship with Him, the way they draw close and entrust themselves and their families to Him completely, even when they don’t understand.  Because they DO understand that in comparison with Him, they are ‘bears of very little brain’...with fluff between their ears. They know that they are powerless to ‘fix things’ for their families (as Kanga is wont to do), but He is not.  They can simply hold out their paws and cling to His big carpenter’s hand and let the tears flow, waiting for His Shalom to descend in the quiet of the Wood.

Developing your character...

Recently I watched the new movie Christopher Robin at the theater and simply loved it.  Feeling overwhelmed and discouraged with my job, I entered the theater with a longing to experience simple and pure childlike joy...and was not disappointed. In fact, the movie stayed with me.

Earlier this year, I asked the Lord if there would be a Hundred Acre Wood in Heaven and, if so, could we walk in it together. His affirmative answer would not surprise you. Then yesterday morning, in my prayer time, I was Pooh to His Christopher Robin, holding His hand and walking without speaking.  Finally He said that He was glad I came to Him as Pooh; in fact He was delighted.  He explained to me that although He loves the Piglets, the Rabbits, the Tiggers, the Owls, and the Eeyores, they tend to come to Him for a particular reason. Piglet comes when he is afraid.  Rabbit is very busy and needs certain problems solved. Owl asks for help to appear intellectual in the eyes of the others. Tigger bounces over on occasion as he heads out on an adventure. Eeyore in his self-pity longs for a change in his circumstances.

However, Pooh just comes to be with Him.  He reaches up his paw and simply yearns to be in His Presence, not asking for anything in particular, just enjoying the quietness and peace of walking together in the stillness of the Wood.

Let’s all take time to be Poohs....but don’t be afraid to be a Piglet, or an Eeyore, or a Tigger, or a Rabbit, either. He loves and welcomes us in every state of Character in which we find ourselves.

Luke 18:16 
Matthew 18:3

“Don’t underestimate the value of doing nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.”

“Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.”

“Sometimes the smallest things take the most room in your heart.”   

“Any day spent with you is my favorite day.”

“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. ‘Pooh?’ He whispered. ‘Yes, Piglet?’ ‘Nothing,’ said Piglet, taking Pooh’s hand. ‘I just wanted to be sure of you.’ “

“Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude.”

Piglet: “ ‘Supposing a tree fell,down, Pooh, when we were underneath it.’
‘Supposing it didn’t, ‘ said Pooh after careful thought. Piglet was comforted by this.”

“Wherever they go and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on top of the forest, a little boy and his bear will always be playing.”
—AA Milne