Following the example I began last week Lord, today I’m celebrating another “Thankful Thursday” here at phatherphil.org. While I’m truly thankful all week long, I love the idea of spending our time together one day each week focusing my prayers on one particular Blessing that You’ve granted me. If nothing else, with all the love You’ve shown me Father, I should have enough material for an infinite number of Thursdays! 🙂
“When we consider the blessings of God–the gifts that add beauty and joy to our lives, that enable us to keep going through stretches of boredom and even suffering–friendship is very near the top.” – Donald W. McCullough, Mastering Personal Growth
Friendships have been at the forefront of my heart this past week Lord. Over the years, you’ve brought some truly amazing and wonderful people into my life. Some are still nearby, some have moved away and some have passed on to Your Kingdom, but all have left indelible footprints on my path. From these vessels of Your choosing Lord, I’ve gained wisdom, acceptance, fellowship and encouragement.
You’ve even used technology to connect us Father. Thanks to the staggering growth of the Internet, it seems as though no corner of the world is outside our reach these days. Through this conduit, I’ve been Blessed to connect with many beautiful souls whom I likely would never have encountered otherwise. Your Children in this “global fellowship” give me fresh perspective and inspiration, and have enriched my journey to no end.
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the many friendships and fellowships You’ve Blessed me with. I am a better man, and a better Child of God for those relationships.
“Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV)
For some time now Father, I’ve been feeling like You’ve been preparing me for something; teaching me hard lessons, tempering my faith and yet at the same time guiding me towards a destination somewhere “outside my box”. You’ve whispered messages of encouragement and direction into my heart, but as I called them in yesterday’s chat all those “puzzle pieces” just haven’t quite fit together yet. You told me there would be change in my life, You told me to “Expect something wonderful” and over and over again You told me to be steadfast and have Faith. I won’t sugar coat it Lord… The last year or so has been extremely difficult for me. But Father, somewhere during this time of trials something strange happened…
I found that I actually became more thankful for Your Blessings in my life, and have grown closer to You in the process.
I got to thinking about this quite a bit today, and I realized that it wasn’t the first time You’ve used hardships to teach me something important. In fact, the first time was what I consider to be the lowest point in my life and at the same time, the beginning of my understanding of what true Blessings are.
On December 14, 1999, you gave to us a wonderful, beautiful little boy whom we named Jonathan. As we’d been told for years that we couldn’t have our own biological children, Jonathan was deemed our “miracle baby”; little did we know how true that description was.
At Jonathan’s 10-week checkup, the pediatrician noticed that he looked awfully pale so she ordered some blood tests to be done. A few hours later in a flurry of anxious phone calls we were sent directly to A.I. Dupont Hospital for Children’s Oncology / Hematology department for an emergency appointment. The next several weeks to follow were to be honest, a blur. Test after test was done, and yet answers still seemed just out of everyone’s reach while terms like Leukemia, Anemia and Spherocytosis were tossed about between the physicians. Finally, on March 19th (coincidentally my 30th birthday) we were given the grim diagnosis. Jonathan had a rare disease called Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, and it had infiltrated multiple systems in his tiny little body. While the doctors were hesitant to give us any specifics about his prognosis, we were quietly informed that based on how far the disease had spread and the lack of information about it they gave him a 10 to 20% chance at best.
Shannon and I were absolutely devastated. I was lost Father, and hurt, and angry… oh was I angry.
You had started to bring me to You that day Father, although I didn’t know it at the time. We spent the majority of our time over the next 14 months living at the hospital, clinging to his life with all we had. From rounds of chemotherapy and steroids, to surgeries, to recovery protocols we stayed fast and hung our lives on every change in his condition.
I’d love to say that I prayed long, deep, faithful prayers Lord, but we both know that isn’t true. I was consumed by grief, and anger and fear. I have no doubt You were trying to talk to me then Father, but I was nothing resembling receptive.
And yet, You never left Jonathan’s side. I was broken, and lost and still You remained ever-faithful. Thank You so much for that Father. 🙂
It’s said that hindsight is 20/20, and in this case it’s an apt phrase. When I look back at that terrifying period of uncertainty in our lives, I realize that I needed to be there. In the midst of my darkest time, You were waving a lantern; pointing out things that had I not been forced to deal with, I would have never seen. It was a transformational and pivotal point in my life Lord, and it completely altered the path I’d been on. The lessons I learned in those years changed me in ways I’m still uncovering today.
Fast forward ten years time…
Life again took a new turn down the road of uncertainty. Between severe economic nightmares, the unexpected death of my best friend and a seemingly unending set of problems, the last year has been the most stressful period I’ve had since Jonathan’s illness was diagnosed. This time however, it’s different Father:
I know You’re here with me, ever-faithful, ever-vigilant. Even in my turmoil, I feel Your Peace.
See Lord, I learn. 🙂
Heavenly Father, I thank You for faithfully guiding me down the path You have laid out for me. Please keep my eyes open, my ears trained and my heart open for those whisperings You pass to me along the way. Amen.
Well Father, it’s certainly been a hectic day around here albeit a positive and somewhat enlightening one. Some “puzzle pieces” in my life are starting to fit together into something recognizable. Thank You for that glimmer of a picture… I can’t wait to see the completed image.
Today Lord, I started the morning with a happy grin on my face. While driving the kids to school, the song “Children of God” performed by the group Third Day came on the radio:
My head was elsewhere initially, but I snapped to when I realized I was being serenaded by my two boys in the back seat singing the children’s part. What a joyous smile it brought hearing them praising You in song first thing in the morning! Better than coffee Father. 🙂
On another note Father, I started a new book yesterday that I’ve very much been looking forward to reading. It’s written by Pete Wilson, Senior Pastor for Cross Point Church and the book is titled “Plan B: What Do You Do When God Doesn’t Show Up the Way You Thought He Would?”. I only had time to get through the first couple chapters last night, but I’m enjoying it so far. Pastor Wilson brings a wonderful “genuine” feel to his writing, and I’m excited to see where this tome takes me in the chapters ahead.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the smiles of the day, for fitting puzzle pieces, for connecting me with others who inspire me along my journey, and for remaining ever-vigilant and ever-faithful in Your Love for us all. Amen.
Father, today marks the birth of someone who greatly influenced my early years, as well as the lives of many other children throughout the world. And while he’s no longer with us here, the legacy he left behind continues to inspire, educate and delight those who read his works. I’m of course speaking of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known by his pen name of Dr. Seuss.
While he made a point of not speaking to any one religion or group in his writings, his messages of tolerance, understanding and peace were obvious and recurring themes in the books he wrote. Through whimsical characters, engaging stories and tongue-twisting rhymes he made learning fun while passing along the underlying positive messages to his young audience. Even as an adult, I still get a smile reading his stories.
The one published exception to his self-imposed rule of not writing works with obvious religious connotations came in a full-page, full-color article in the December 23, 1955 issue of Collier’s Magazine, where he wrote “A Prayer for a Child”* :
“From here on earth, From my small place I ask of You Way out in space: Please tell all men In every land What You and I Both understand . . .
Please tell all men That Peace is Good. That’s all That need be understood In every world In Your great sky.
(We understand. Both You and I.)” – Theodor Seuss Geisel
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gifts this man brought to me and to so many other children. While his words may not specifically carry Your name, Your Light shone brightly through his works all the same. Amen.
~Phather Phil
*The poem and image used are Trademark and Copyright of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P.
In recent months Father, my children have become much more observant of the people around them and the things they say and do. This of course has led to LOTS of questions about behaviors and mannerisms, and why people act in certain ways. Following a car ride we took over the weekend, I started thinking much more in-depth about what they’re asking and the responses I’ve been giving them.
“Why do people throw trash on the ground?” asked Aidan as he looked out the car window Saturday afternoon. “Because sometimes, people can be lazy and selfish I’m afraid.” I responded. A little further down the road, I put my turn signal on to move over into a different lane. When I did so, instead of making space to let me in the driver of the car next to me closed the gap between themselves and the car in front of them, effectively preventing the lane-change. Sensing my annoyance, one of the boys piped up “Why’d they do that?”. “Because sometimes people only think about themselves.” I replied.
As I look back on that ride, I’m a little disappointed by the answers I gave to the boys. These were prime openings for much deeper discussions about how our actions or inactions can affect others, and how with little acts of kindness and thoughtfulness we can make a real difference in the lives of those around us. Little things like holding onto your napkin from lunch until you find a trash can, or moving aside when you see someone with their turn signal on cost us very little effort, and yet can be the difference between a smile and “the last straw” of someone’s day.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” – Colossians 3:12 (NIV)
In the same respect Lord, I am also convicted by my own words as well. In a rush to get to work in the morning, how many times have I cut someone off without thinking about it? How many times have I not stopped to help someone in need when I truly could have? How often have I focused on situations in my own life instead of trying to reach out to others going through difficult times? I do try to be a good person and show kindness and comfort to others, but if I’m brutally honest with myself I know I can do more.
Heavenly Father, please help guide me to be a source of compassion, support and understanding to those around me. Lead me to reach out in the spirit of Your Love, and to show that Light to others. Kindness is contagious Lord; Please aid me in starting an epidemic. Amen.
Hi, I’m Phil Malmstrom, a.k.a. Phather Phil. I’m self-employed, father of two wonderful young men, an ordained minister who delights in spreading Jesus’ Message of Hope and Love, a science-fiction junkie, an aspiring photographer and above all that one of God’s Children who rejoices in His Blessings each day.
Hi, I’m Phil Malmstrom, a.k.a. Phather Phil. I’m self-employed, father of two wonderful young men, an ordained minister who delights in spreading Jesus’ Message of Hope and Love, a science-fiction junkie, an aspiring photographer and above all that one of God’s Children who rejoices in His Blessings each day. 
