Benny Is My Alarm Clock.
This morning, before the crack of dawn, in advance of any smiling abilities on my part, our Benny was up. I mean, whoever heard of not being in the tub at 5:30 a.m. splashing in the bath water his daddy cheerfully (true story, cheerfully) fixed for him. I noticed that Benny seemed extra boisterous, as a glob of water landed squarely on my nice warm fuzzy socks. My fuzzy socks were not yet awake and did not appreciate being so rudely awakened. I grabbed a bottle of Young Living Lavender Oil and landed a few drops into his bath water in hopes of some miraculous calming powers.
Benny is my very own Romans 5:3-5.
This verse involves tribulations, patience, experience, hope, and the love of God being shed abroad in our hearts. On a daily basis, our lives are all of this, multiple times in one day, in this order, again and again! Sometimes I try to avoid this verse like the plague. I don’t enjoy tribulation. But we have the promise that through this, the love of God will be shed abroad in our hearts. This is good news!
If you had peered into our kitchen, a bit later, after the bathroom being thoroughly soaked, you would have noticed Benny perched on a chair, squealing to be let off. Benny doesn’t understand the hurrying and scurrying in the morning. He understands that Daddy is leaving and that his sisters are also departing. He gets worried, anxious and upset, and scoots after everyone, crying, and yanking on skirts or pant legs, whatever it may be, to keep all humans intact and inside where he wants them. So this morning, we are trying something new. Benny sits on a chair in the kitchen, able to observe it all, but not able to scramble after us, trying to detain us. We will see how this goes. It may work for a day, a week, or even a month, we never know!
As the first blush of dawn began painting the sky a pale blue, you may then have heard the distinct sound of snow tires screaming in their valiant efforts to get all Troyers up and out of our steep driveway to their various places of work. You would have observed white clouds of flying snow in rainbow arches as the vehicles made the desperate dash in hopes of cresting the mountain, and if one could be so lucky, it would actually land on the road at the summit. The tiny 4 wheel drive Ford pick-up truck claimed the trophy when it ended up pulling each car out and up. Barely moving as it reached the top, somehow it got them all safely on their way.
Benny is my safe place.
I love this so much. No matter what anyone else thinks of me, Benny is always my safe place. His unconditional love soaks through me and touches my soul. Benny is 14 years old, and when he lands on my lap, he is almost as big as me and shuts off the circulation in my legs, but guess what, I love it anyway.
This morning, once the house quieted down, Benny wanted to be held just as, at long last, I plopped down to a bowl of Rice Chex with honey, a cup of coffee, and my morning vitamins. I mustered up all my strength, picked up his 80 pounds of weight, and allowed my legs to go numb as I munched that yummy cereal. Knowing that crunching noises make him giggle, I crunched as loudly and as rudely as I possibly could! 🙂 His belly laughs filled the kitchen and my heart was happy and blessed.
Not a prize worthy picture, but it will do for now!
Who/what is your “Benny?”
We all have that “Benny” in our lives. It may not be a little boy touching your life every day, but it is something or someone! What is it that brings you a daily opportunity (gulp) to practice patience, which eventually leads to hope and the love of God?
…And even as I speak, I hear the unmistakable sound of washer beeps going off. Not because I washed a load and the cycle is done. But because Benny is helping himself to the beautiful beep tones he loves so much. I can’t believe our washer still works! Beep, beep, beep … Gotta run!
Have a wonderful, tried and tested day! May the love of God be shed abroad in your hearts! Blessings to all you beautiful people…
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5:3-5 KJV
