Tuesday, November 8, 2022
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Who’s in charge here?
You must say what is consistent with sound doctrine, namely, that older men should be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, love, and endurance.
Yesterday Jasper and I made a candy treasure box with mini-Snickers, peppermints, watermelon gummies, peanuts and salt water taffy. This is just the first treasure box; Margaret is making one with toys, too. This is birthday week for Miles. And Aki. And next week will be my birthday week!
Tonight we all plan to celebrate with a fancy Italian meal accompanied by music from Tom, our favorite Austin saxophonist. We met Tom at the ArtPact Fall and Winter Gala opening night a few weeks ago. Surrounded by art, artists, music and fine desserts, we talked to Tom and his wife about his gigs. One of them is Tuesdays at Reale’s Italian Café.
Margaret and Jasper made meat loaf for lunch yesterday. He poured half a bottle of ketchup on top. Boy, was it good! Jasper and I also ate sweet pickles, and some corn and peas. Jasper loves vegetable juice, and he poured the left-over juice into his water glass. His own creation, his vegetable cocktail. Everything is part of birthday week.
While they fixed the meat loaf we listened to Rob Evans the Donut Man and his Donut Repair Tour Kids. They sang, “Goliath.” We were scared. We stared at the video and didn’t blink once. And then Rob Evans sang about David killing a lion, and pulling him back to the campfire by his mane. You could hear a pin drop.
And older women should be reverent in their behavior, not gossipers or addicted to sherry or gin, teaching what is good, so that they may train younger women, so that the word of God may not be discredited.
Margaret and I are older, yes. We don’t feel so old with Jasper, who is 3. Jasper is seventy years younger than we are. I am generally self-controlled, but rarely do I think about acting dignified. Margaret is reverent and teaches Jasper what is good. When they play, she lets him lead. But when they cook, she has earned the right then to be the leader.
After naps we drove to Austin Classical School, where Andi teaches art. She met us there. I joined the volunteers helping with the newly formed chess club, fifty kids from kindergarten through upper high school. The older kids worked with the younger kids. Miles played a game with Mason, a second-grader.
Jesus gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good.
Both of them knew the moves, and both of them were bold. They lost lots of pieces, and then it was time to stop. Mason said, “You won, Miles. We couldn’t finish, but you captured more pieces than me.” They shook hands. It was amazing. And Miles told his kindergarten teacher, “Well, my record so far is 1-0.”
Jasper and Margaret met several new friends on the playground. Everyone had a great time. Of course they did. It’s birthday week!
The grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and to live temperately, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope.
(Titus 2, Psalm 37, John 14, Luke 17)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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