Family Day

First up, I’ll give you the scoop on my plans that didn’t pan out. February 14-17 was the Great Backyard Bird Count here in Canada. I’ve never done this before, but I was going to give it a shot. 

When the 14th arrived I peered out our window to see not a single winged thing in sight. It was the same story on the 15th. I was feeling too crummy on the 16th. Then on the 17th I was too busy. However, out of curiosity I did take a glance. Yet again there wasn’t a bird to be found. I don’t blame ’em. The wind chill factor was for the birds. Make that it wasn’t for the birds, including myself who was prefering to stay indoors anyways.

Nevertheless, it was Family Day here on Monday the 17th of February. I forgot! Consequently, we spent time with kinfolk anyways as I’d invited my parents over for a late lunch for my mom’s birthday. 

Family Day is a statutory holiday that is only observed in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Saskatchewan. In other Provinces the third Monday of February is marked with a holiday for different reasons. Quebec is the only Province that has been left out in the cold. Apparently, they must prefer it this way. Quebecers pondered it back in 2016, but it looks as if they still don’t have a mid February holiday.

That’s Jessie sensing that company is coming. She was watching the window wide-eyed like a hawk.

The week before I was stressing too! Hostessing isn’t my favorite thing, but it’s definitely easier when it’s your parents. The silly thing that I’d been stressing about was what to feed them. I can happily work my way through some deep spiritual matter, but give me something simple such as what to serve someone for lunch, and my mind goes blank!

Sheya was pensively perched in the bedroom window. Neither of our kitties are fond of company.

Finally I had the thought to make something I know like the back of my hand. Something that I can make well. So I went with beef stew. I was going to make some GF biscuits to accompany this, but my time management was off. I think Andrew knew that I was being overly ambitious as he had said to me, “Are you sure about that?” Therefore, I ran short as I tidied our home. It worked out. My parents said that they eat very little for lunch these days, so what I’d managed to make was plenty. (I guess they eat like birds.)

We bought a gluten-free black forest cake. It was really really good! It was so moist, and the sour cherries made this moderately sweet cake amazing. I prefer desert that isn’t sickly sweet, so this had a perfect balance. Guess who had cake for breakfast the following day? (Mmmhmm.)

I hadn’t left everything to the last minute. The few days before this allotted visit, my fatigue was kicking me around. I knew that I’d have to wake up a bit early to tackle everything that I hadn’t managed to get done. It wasn’t enough time. Our suite, therefore, wasn’t as clean as I would have prefered it to be, but I decided not to sweat this. I did my best. That’s all you can do, right? When my mom said of her birthday gift “It’s perfect” it made me think.

The Bible reveals that Jesus told His followers to be perfect as their Father in heaven is perfect, but he’s not teaching perfectionism. It’s a goal. We strive to be like Jesus. This is a goal that no one will achieve. So why do we do it? First, it’s a command. Jesus expects us to do our best. However, today’s best is perfect in His eyes. Yes, it’s totally imperfect, but God accepts our faith. 

When we follow Him we trust that He will help us mature and change. We follow His lead, giving Him our very best effort. 

Just as my mom said, “It’s perfect” even though the vision I had for everything didn’t come out as planned, God looks at us the exact same way. Our faith in Him is pleasing to Him. Without faith, however, no one can please God. Try pleasing any father if you won’t acknowledge Him and listen.

The child who wants to please his or her father will learn and grow, making a father exceedingly proud. Why? A child who listens becomes wise and will be a shining example. Yes, like a good father He loves us as we are, but He expects us to have faith like a child, trusting that what He says is true, and being confident that He is able. Unless we become like little children we won’t enter the Kingdom of heaven, for true children of God are those who allow the Spirit (of God) to lead–that is, the Holy Spirit who all believers recieve when they accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.

It’s truly amazing what you can pick up when your ears are tuned to the Spirit of God. It’s pretty wonderful too!

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.“

Romans 8:14-16