Stars up in the Austin sky
These stars don’t fall far from the tree. Once upon a time, like two and a half years ago, we took turns, Margaret and I, sitting with Miles while he fell asleep. Andi and Aki were gone to Europe for a long week, and we got the Miles time. “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” took on a life of its own then, which for me it has never lost.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing as he chose, before the foundation of the world.
Now we’re here again, and Miles will be four in 28 days, on 11/11. He’s a true veteran of many things, including his night time rituals. Miles’ and Jasper’s parents are gone tonight, although only for a few hours this time, playing miniature golf on just about their first date since the pandemic shut all our doors.
He destined us for adoption in the praise of the glory of his grace, which he has granted us in the beloved.
Miles brushed his teeth with dental energy and gargled like a madman. I took a picture, and he asked for a video, and then said, “Be sure to send that to Mamo.”
We read a poem he liked about Peter Piper playing, “Over the hills and far away.” And we read “BOB, not Bob,” the book about Louis with a cold trying to get his mom to come and cuddle, but the sweet slobbery dog named Bob came running, every time! No, not you Bob! Bob, I need you. Bob, Mob, Bom, Mom … and after a bunch of misconnects Mom came and laid down with sick old Louie all afternoon, and then Bob came too, slobbering as usual, and laid down on top of them both.
Everyone was smiling then, as they fell asleep together. Louie got well, and his mom got sick, and Bob slobbered.
He has lavished the riches of his grace upon us.
Then Miles told me just how to set up the music, and he pushed a button on the belly of an unidentified animal-of-the-bed and told me to turn out the light. Which I did, and then the sky lit up with the most wonderful white moon and bright stars, and I laid down on the floor to stretch my back and watched the sky gifted to both of us by the light in the belly of the animal-of-the-bed, until we both nearly fell asleep.
God has made known to us the mystery of his will as a plan for the fullness of times, summing up in Christ all the things in heaven and on earth.
This is what we came to Austin for. For moments like this we would travel to the ends of the earth.
Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands, and break into song. Sing praise! The Lord has made known his salvation.
