Word From the Wildman--August 2016

Uriah is participating in mini-4H this year; he decided he wanted to do woodworking for his project. This has been a learning experience for me as much as for him. I am striving as best as I can to let this be his project, while helping him learn to do things he has never done before. I am learning to accept less than perfect work, if it is work that he is content with.
    
For example, he is building a tool box, and decided that he wanted to stain and varnish it. We were trying to teach him how to stain, demonstrating that one uses a piece of cloth and wipes it on in thin layers. He decided that he didn’t want to do it that way; it would be better using a foam brush and putting it on extra thick. We told him what would be best, but he decided that doing it his way would be better. 
     
As Lindsay and I talked, she pointed out the obvious to me…this is exactly what we do to God. Though, it is a bit different, because as a father, I am not all-knowing and perfect. 
     
Still, this helps me to better understand my relationship with God. While I would like Uriah to do perfect, I don’t love him any less because of the flaws in his project. However, I hope that as he sees the other projects, and reads the judges’ critiques that it will motivate him to strive to follow the directions more closely in the future. 
     
All of this helps me to process God’s view of humanity. His loving words, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” (John 8:11). And, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.” (1 Samuel 12:20).
    
May we live in the truth that our mistakes do not change God’s love for us. And may we learn from our mistakes and allow them to propel us to more precise faithfulness. 
    
Blessings,
​Kevin