There are two people who I feel have always understood me the most...or at least had interest in attempting to understand me.

These are high school graduation pics of my parents.

Did they know exactly how I felt?

No.

But, they were observant of what was going on with my development as a human being ...beginning at conception, and they continued to care.

No matter what I went through in life, whether I succeeded or failed ...they cared.

Some of you may say you wish you had parents like that ...that you never had that kind of relationship.

I contend that each of you have at least three persons that care ...and all it takes is for you to acknowledge that fact.

Some of you may say, "There's not anybody in my life that cares!" I would again contend that ...that is because of "you".

Let me relate a story to you, to explain.

Several years ago, I saw that our oldest daughter, Shannon, was upset, or bothered by something. So, I naturally approached her.  And this is what was said:

Dad: "What's the matter, Shannon?"

Shannon: "Nothing."

Dad: "Come on. I can tell that something is bothering you.  You can talk to me about it."

Shannon: "You wouldn't understand."

Dad: "How do you know?  Why don't you just tell me, and you can better assess that."

Shannon: "You don't understand how I feel.  There isn't anyone who does."

Dad: "You are probably right ...about me.  Yet, I guess I can accurately say that same thing ...that you don't understand precisely how I feel either.  But ...God does understand both of us, and we should turn to Him with how we feel.  And if we both do that, I'm confident that we'd understand each other better too."

This goes back to the statement of the three persons that care ...and understand precisely what you are going through too.

The Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit.

There is no inconsistency, nor division ...as the Three, are One.  Yet, each impact our lives in different ways ...yet, in the same way.

Again, we have to acknowledge that fact.

And it is not as important for someone to understand me, or for me to understand you ...but, it is important for all of us to attempt to understand Him.

How do we do that?

Well, first of all, He has provided us with a book, preserved over time ...to reveal to us who He is.  It is quite extensive and mostly easy to read ...and it is called the Bible.

If we are committed to read it, it should become clear to us what He is trying to get us to understand, and it would seem that we'd grow in our relationship with Him.

And secondly, it is often helpful to attentively listen and show interest in what others have to say.

Many of us show interest in watching TV, and if there is a 'special' on, about our favorite movie star or sports figure ...we listen to all the testimony about what people say about that person.

Let's have dialogue about the most important relationship we can have ...with God.

When I was getting ready to tile our tub and shower area ...my wife said I should also buy the video to show me how.  I declined, stating that I wanted to experience it for myself.  

Well, I'm not that way with everything ...as when my parents told me that drugs and alcohol were not good for a person.  I didn't say to them that I'd rather experience it for myself.  And I would never claim that the people on the video could not do as good as me with tiling the shower ...and I'm sure my wife would agree.  

Us guys sometimes like to attempt to do things without reading the directions, or go places without reading a map.  But, I do know the difference between those things and others that are way more critical. I would never walk into a cockpit of an airplane and tell the pilot that I think I'd like to give it a try flying the plane.(By the way, I've never had a lesson ...never been in a cockpit, and never plan to be.)  To attempt that would likely cost people their lives.

It is also a 'life' decision ...whether we accept Jesus.

Dad had lessons, and flew a small plane ...but, he'd shudder to think of me attempting to do it, with no lessons.

At times, I shudder to think of myself ...imagining what it would be like if I had been living during the time that Jesus walked the earth.  I wonder ...and imagine that I could have been one of the ones who followed the religious leaders of the day, mumbling about the nerve of this character and who does HE think HE is?

I've seen many titles of books, of the likes of, "Common Mistakes People Make".  The purpose of those books is for us to see where others have errored, so we can avoid the same mistakes. I value history for this same purpose ...understanding that history repeats itself, because we repeat our mistakes.  And I am thankful for the genuineness of His-story ...the Bible.  And I am certainly thankful that I read of the failures, and be relieved that I don't have to go there too.  Of course, I continue to fail ...but, I know where success lives.