Keeping Between the Ditches
“Keep between the ditches,” my sweet Daddy used to say when I headed out in the car. He said that because he loved me.
“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word;
and My Father will love him,
and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”
John 14:23
Our sweet Jesus said that because He loves us.
When we were at the art museum on Monday, the docent instructed us to stay behind the silver line that had been placed on the floor about 18 inches from Eric Carle’s framed illustrations.
In a few minutes, our three-year-old grandson said to me, “Howis me.” “Howiss me” is one of his baby phrases that he still uses. It means, “Hold me.” Later he explained why: “I might get inside the silver line.”
The docent hadn’t made a big deal about it and we hadn’t either, but her simple rule was stressing his little heart. He trusted me to make sure that he didn’t cross the forbidden silver line.
God planned for mamas and daddies — and grandparents, too, I believe — to help their children stay on the path of life, a sort of spiritual keeping between the ditches.
He is on the path of life who heeds instruction,
But he who ignores reproof goes astray.
Proverbs 10:17
It is a great blessing to our children when we follow the example of grandmother Lois and mother Eunice.
For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you,
which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois
and your mother Eunice,
and I am sure that it is in you as well.
2 Timothy 1:5