THE TWO EDGED SWORD

My mom is in a class all her own! Never have I known a woman so consistently serving, so consistently encouraging, so consistently saying with her big Texas smile, "What can I do for you?"   Ever met someone like that?   On the other side of the coin, my brother and I used to swear that she had eyes on the back of her head and ears like a deer in the forest. With puzzled smiles on our mischievous faces we called her "Sherlock" behind her back because she knew all, could tell us before we tried something sneaky, and exactly just what it was we were trying to get by her.   Mom’s goal was simply this; do whatever it took to serve her family and to raise good boys. (I know some days she has to wonder!)   Mom was a wonderful shadow of the God for whom I would someday grow to marvel. His word points out my shortcomings. He corrects my faults. He strengthens my weaknesses. If I’ve tried to rationalize a wrong, my daily Bible study quickly sets my wheels back on track. His intentions are simple; "Just be like my Son and do what He would do."   Then I turn the page with God and I see a great big father’s lap, a shoulder to cry on, a refuge in a storm, a confidante in the time of trouble.   Constant guidance in time of question.   Confident access in time of need.   He keeps me from falling on my face.   He’s there to pick me up when I didn’t listen well.   With Jesus in my heart, the guidance of His word is like being a blind man and having a seeing-eye dog without a flaw. With Jesus as my Lord, I can go straight to God and open my heart to Him in prayer like there’s only one phone line and there’s never a busy signal.