 | Papa O'Toole reminds me a lot of another Father I know... |
I don't know about you, but I while watching Truth Be Told I couldn't help but draw a parallel between how Joe O'Toole cared for and dealt with Oliver, and how God constantly attempts to relate to and communicate with us, his children.
We're an imperfect bunch, fallible in more ways than I can spend time on this blog talking about, but God levels with us, meets us where we are, and lets us come to him. Check out a montage of a few of moments from Truth Be Told that caught my attention:
We're an imperfect bunch, fallible in more ways than I can spend time on this blog talking about, but God levels with us, meets us where we are, and lets us come to him. Check out a montage of a few of moments from Truth Be Told that caught my attention:
"...Today Is That Day..."
Fifteen years of unanswered letters---how often is the story that we've walked away from God for some time, or perhaps only recently realized what it truly meant to have a relationship with Him?
Much like Papa O'Toole's letters were "returned to sender," often we, as God's kids, either reject or ignore God's attempts to get our attention, for whatever the reasons may be. But, much like Papa O'Toole demonstrates, God never stops being there for us, especially because there will come a day when we realize how much we need Him. How great it is to know that He'll always be there to listen when we finally come to our senses?!
Much like Papa O'Toole's letters were "returned to sender," often we, as God's kids, either reject or ignore God's attempts to get our attention, for whatever the reasons may be. But, much like Papa O'Toole demonstrates, God never stops being there for us, especially because there will come a day when we realize how much we need Him. How great it is to know that He'll always be there to listen when we finally come to our senses?!
"Being Your Father Means Everything To Me."
| While it was no doubt painful for Joe to marry the wrong woman, it brought him the gift of a son, and the treasured relationship that came with it. Let's go back to basics: God sent his Son to die for us so we could be reconciled back to Him. If the opportunity for Him to have a relationship with us didn't mean everything to Him, there would have been no need to send His son to die. Each and every one of us meant that much to God, and each and every one of us can have a relationship with Him! He's just waiting for us to come around! |  A time to process... |
Oliver's response to his father here is also worth taking a second on. No doubt, we, as God's imperfect children, say things to justify our positions on certain issues or deflect our pain, much like Oliver threw up to his dad that he should have told the truth long ago as seen in the video.
Papa O'Toole was right---no father would have dropped a bomb like that on a little boy. Joe's response here is critical, because I think it also reveals another aspect of God we don't often consider---the truth usually isn't revealed to us in full until we're capable of processing and handling it. This isn't always right away, sometimes it's five days or even five years later--- for Oliver, it was even longer. But God doesn't like to see his kids lost for long. Oliver was clearly ready to hear the truth, and, as his house rules check-in confirmed, it was a long time coming. But even more than that, God made sure Oliver had everything (and everyone) he needed to embrace, process and move forward from the situation.
Papa O'Toole was right---no father would have dropped a bomb like that on a little boy. Joe's response here is critical, because I think it also reveals another aspect of God we don't often consider---the truth usually isn't revealed to us in full until we're capable of processing and handling it. This isn't always right away, sometimes it's five days or even five years later--- for Oliver, it was even longer. But God doesn't like to see his kids lost for long. Oliver was clearly ready to hear the truth, and, as his house rules check-in confirmed, it was a long time coming. But even more than that, God made sure Oliver had everything (and everyone) he needed to embrace, process and move forward from the situation.
"Take Your Time...I'm Not Going Anywhere."
| This is perhaps my most favorite interaction between Oliver and his dad. For the simple fact Oliver remembers the moment, you can tell the impact it had on him that his mother walked away, but Papa O'Toole sat down and leveled with him, with all the love in the world committing to wait for little Oliver until he was ready to come down that slide. How often are we Oliver's mom---too impatient with ourselves or others to love as we should? I think this memory reminds us of the impact it can have. I am nowhere near having children, but, boy was this a check on how I will interact with, and demonstrate love to, my future children! |  Recalling a memory. |
Above all, it reminds us how God often levels with us until we're ready to move forward---in whatever context that may be. God never interferes with our free will, just like Joe didn't go up and push Oliver down the slide, or coerce him with the threat of abandonment.
God waits for us, at the bottom of the slide, until we're ready to come down. That's love, and that's the kind of love and patience we, as His children, are called to demonstrate towards each other. That's what our Dad taught---and continues to teach---us to do through His Word!
Today isn't about throwing scripture at you---Martha doesn't always do it, so I won't either. It's about reminding you that your Dad cares about much more than just your belief in him. He wants a relationship with you, in whatever form that takes. Take a second and think about ways He might be trying to reach out to you today, and every day, even in the little things!
And, once again, all the thanks to Martha for finding ways to remind us how great our Dad is, even if it takes a bit of work on our part to make the connection!
Thanks Dad,
~C
God waits for us, at the bottom of the slide, until we're ready to come down. That's love, and that's the kind of love and patience we, as His children, are called to demonstrate towards each other. That's what our Dad taught---and continues to teach---us to do through His Word!
Today isn't about throwing scripture at you---Martha doesn't always do it, so I won't either. It's about reminding you that your Dad cares about much more than just your belief in him. He wants a relationship with you, in whatever form that takes. Take a second and think about ways He might be trying to reach out to you today, and every day, even in the little things!
And, once again, all the thanks to Martha for finding ways to remind us how great our Dad is, even if it takes a bit of work on our part to make the connection!
Thanks Dad,
~C
RSS Feed
