Munificent

Today your Grandpa Lauritzen is 75 years old. Three-quarters of a century! What a reason to celebrate! And we will! He has lived a long and eventful life, filled with crazy experiences (from a bit-off tongue to a frozen esophagus). He is witty, generous, logical (almost to a Spock standpoint), a perfectionist, can repair just about anything and out eat just about any human being while maintaining his slender build. When he laughs, he does so heartily. When he is concentrating on something, I dare you to break it. He's a sesquipedalian so when he speaks, keep a dictionary nearby so you can look up the big words. When he drives, he takes chances no one else would dare and somehow comes out unscathed. He loves his Lord passionately and never ceases to study the Word. He seeks mission opportunities that utilize his many skills. He has his Tom-isms, like "Expect the best and prepare for the worst," and "Who ever said life's fair?" And he gives the best hugs ever ... ask anyone.

That is your grandpa. Oh there is so much more to him, but if there is anything I would want you as a couple to take from him it would be his selflessness and generosity. I don't know where he learned both, but if I had to guess it was probably his maternal grandfather. He speaks of his Grandpa Holmes with much respect. I believe this man had the greatest influence on your grandpa, and I look forward to meeting him one day in Paradise. Regardless, your grandfather will certainly put your needs and wants before his own. It is something to emulate. One of my favorite stories to share about him is his love of Snicker bars, but not so much the love of them as the sharing of them. I remember many times seeing that candy bar sitting before him, my mouth watering, and him saying before taking a bite to help myself. Were I in the same position, I am just not sure I could be so generous with chocolate. It spoke volumes to me. I think, like him, we need to look at what we have as never really being ours in the first place, but rather the Lord's, and therefore share it. That doesn't just mean things or money, but even our talents. What is ours is ours to give and share.

Your grandfather is also a poet. I found this in a treasure box of mine. He wrote it to/for me Aug. 21, 1979. It says: 

A Prayer For Daughter

Thanks, Lord, for being with me yesterday

As my daughter did sincerely pray

My daughter understands, I guess

That prayers are always answered; blest,

What's really important to me however,

Is that my daughter knows forever

You will be constantly at her side

If only You she will let abide

I pray her happiness, unending;

Peace and joy beyond comprehending.

But, most of all, Lord, I pray she'll love.

We know tis the best gift from above!

Go faith, hope and love, these three her way

I pray ... and, Lord, mostly love, always.

                                                     Amen. 

 We pray this for you both as well. Happy Birthday, Dad.

Discussion: Do you have specific memories of your Grandpa? What are some traits above you see in yourself? How can you be generous with what you have?

Prayer: Father, thank you for the life and health of Thomas Phillip Lauritzen. Thank you for his example, wisdom and love. We pray for blessings for him on this his birthday. In Jesus name, Amen.

How Do You Know?

Monday Joe Reeves was at our house with his chainsaw cutting long, thick branches into logs for our Christmas Caroling Campfire scheduled for Friday night. Out of the blue he shared a story about a man who was dating a girl and asked him, "Joe, how do you know when she's the one?" I thought Joe's response was precious. He said, "When she is the first person you think of in the morning and the last thing you think about at night. When doing for her becomes more important than doing for yourself. Then you'll know." This man married the girl he was dating.

I nearly melted when I heard him say this. Joe is married to a good friend of mine, Martina, and to know that is how he feels about her means the world to me. And knowing what a good man Joe is, I know Martina is in good hands.

That last part of his advice, "when doing for her becomes more important than doing for yourself," is key. Recently a friend posted on Facebook about how her husband gave up tickets for the SEC championship game Saturday night to help his wife out for an event at church. This fellow is a diehard Alabama fan and to know that he had tickets for this game and subsequently gave them up for his wife, speaks volumes about his priorities, his love for her, his family and God. Now, I'm not saying he didn't give up those tickets begrudgingly. I'm sure he ached a bit not being at the game, but he did it nonetheless. That's true love. And it works both ways, not just husband to wife, but wife to husband. Recently your Daddy switched a departure time on me for a trip we were taking, cutting my time by nearly 3 hours ... hours I had packed with things I wanted to get done. I flat out told him the earlier time wouldn't work because I had to get these things finished. But then I thought about it some and realized I could rearrange a bit, and if it was that important to him that we leave early, I would make it work. I did that because I love him.

We've talked before about how the best advice I could ever give you is the same advice given to me which is "Marriage is not about give and take, but about give and give and give again" and this advice from Joe enhances that. Phil 2:3 says, "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves." This advice is not just for married couples but for every human being. This is not easy when you have Satan whispering in your ear, "It's all about you," over and over again. But it's important to remember, especially with your spouse. See, since this person is always with you and always there for you, you may get to a point where take advantage of them or even be neglectful. Be sure you remember to put your spouse before yourself.

What makes Joe's advice even more special ... he was living the Word at that very moment. He was taking time out of his day to help me. 

Discussion: Share a time when you sacrificed something you wanted to do for the other person. Share about a time when you were touched when something you wanted to do took presidence. How difficult is it to put each other's needs before your own?

Prayer: Father, we thank you for the example you set in Christ Jesus about putting others before ourselves. Father help us to always remember to copy that behavior, especially with our spouse. And that we never stop. In Jesus name, Amen.