Time Standing Still?

It was not the way I had envisioned my weekend starting- especially this weekend. I had things to do- namely demolish a kitchen so it could be ready for the workers who would restore it later that week. There was a backsplash to chisel out, kitchen counters to remove, and cabinets to repaint. All of these activities were to be accomplished with precision as time was not on my side.

As I left the office Friday afternoon to set out on my weekend full of work I felt a small twinge in my throat and was already feeling a little sore even though I had not yet lifted one cabinet or appliance. “This can’t be.” I thought to myself. “There is work to be done. I cannot get sick.” Thankfully, I was able to plow through Friday night finishing all of the priming of the cabinets, but when I woke up Saturday morning I knew that something had to give- either me or the work that was left to be done. My temperature was 103 and I felt like I had been through a ten round cage match. No way did I feel like demolishing a kitchen!

With a deadline to meet I was determined to stay on schedule. I went to work knocking a few tiles off the backsplash and then laying on the couch for an extended time of rest. It was a slow, rough go of it, but in the end I was able to accomplish what had to be done for the work that was scheduled the following week. No, I did not accomplish everything I wanted to get done, but what had to get done was done. However, it was not just getting the work done that made the weekend a success. In the midst of the rest, work and more rest I was reminded of a valuable lesson-

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."
Proverbs 16:9


Yes, it took me a couple more weekends to get everything finished in my kitchen, but God had a plan and it was accomplished in his time. The question for all of us is this: What are you trying to accomplish in your life and are you attempting to forge ahead of God’s plan or are you allowing him to lead and direct your path? Yes, be faithful to do the necessary work, but trust God to accomplish the results in his time.

A Night Without the Family

It was a night most Dads with two young, busy children would relish- a night at home to do whatever I wanted without interruption. As circumstances would have it I found myself with a wife who was working the night shift at the hospital and my two children, due to an early morning appointment I had, spending the night with Mimi and Pop.

So with a free night to burn I did what many Dads would do- I sought to relieve some stress! My way of relieving stress comes in the form of getting my hands dirty and tackling projects I have no business tackling. The particular project in my crosshairs this night- repainting the kitchen cabinets. Now even a novice, as I am, knew that this would not be a one night project, but I figured I could make great headway with no kids and the house to myself. And Yes, I did have permission from Rebecca before starting the project- a necessary first step in any project. A painful lesson I have learned the hard way. So I set out to start my project and I must admit it went quite well. I cleaned, caulked, filled in screw holes, sanded, de-glossed and was even able to apply the primer to the bottom cabinets. It was truly a nice nights’ work.

As I started cleaning up the mess I had made I noticed a strange sound- it was the sound of silence. Yes, it was 11:30 PM, and the goal every night in the Cannon household is silence at that time, but this particular night it was deafening. I did not like it! I had been able to work for several hours and not notice the loud scream of silence, but as I prepared to go to sleep myself I was suddenly reminded that no one- not my son, daughter, or wife were there with me. It was in that quiet moment that I was reminded of this verse- Psalm 127-3-5:

"Children are a gift from the Lord: they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like sharp arrows in a warrior's hands. How happy is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates."

A few minutes later another verse popped into my mind- Proverbs 18:22:

“He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the LORD.”

So often I run through life unaware of the blessing that my wife and children are to me. I appreciate them, but do I truly show them how much I value and love them? The silence of a night alone taught me that I can do a better job. What about you? Do you find yourself taking for granted your family?

Do you brush your teeth or hair first?

Tallon came running into my bedroom this morning as he does every morning- way to early- and said in his patented voice, “It’s time to get up, Daddy, I’m hungry.” After a few minutes of prodding and begging we mustered our way down stairs to eat some eggs and oatmeal- a combination only a four year old would want. On our way back up the stairs I informed Tallon that we needed to make a stop in the bathroom to comb his hair, which had decided to have a party on his scalp during the night, and brush the oatmeal and egg breath out of his mouth. He grabbed his spider man “noisy” toothbrush (noisy means electric in four year old talk) and I grabbed the hair brush. As I went to comb his hair he immediately stopped me and said, “Wait Daddy, I can’t do both at the same time.” Little did he know that that statement would keep me thinking the rest of the day…

You see, he was intent on fixing his inward problem- bad breath, and I was intent on fixing his outward problem- party hair. As I started thinking about what he said a question popped into my mind- am I more interested in covering up the flaws people see me exhibit or am I more intent on fixing my inward flaws- my character? So often we are not concerned about our inward character, but only with what we portray to people- the outward appearance. We may think, “As long as I come across in a positive way I am OK even if on the inside I am wasting away.” The only problem with this perspective is that it is hypocritical. Jesus spoke to this when he referenced the Pharisees. He said in Matthew 23:27 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean.” I came to the conclusion that I don’t want to be like a whitewashed coffin. If I want to change and grow as a person- husband, father, worker, Christian, friend, etc.-I need to work from the inside out. After all true, lasting change starts from the inside out!

What about you? Are you brushing your hair and ignoring your smelly breath? You may look pretty from a distance, but when people get close they are going to realize you stink!