Now Peter is a Guy I Can Relate To

In Mark 8:32, Peter rebuked Jesus. I can see myself doing that.

I used to sing a song with my kids that says Peter was impetuous, always fussing about something. This gives me a picture of Peter repeatedly sticking his foot in his mouth, acting before he thinks. That’s me too.

Peter reminded Jesus that he had left everything to follow him, and asked what he got in exchange. Matthew 19:27.

Peter challenged Jesus for wanting to wash his feet. John 13:6-8.

He sliced an ear off one of those who came to arrest Jesus. John 18:10.

When Jesus told Peter how he would die, Peter wanted to know how John’s life would turn out. John 21:21.

Peter asked many other questions: When would the destruction of Jerusalem come? Mark 13:3-4. Was seven times enough for him to forgive someone? Matthew 18:21.

He was always willing to speak up to Jesus, questioning him when he searched for one person among the many who crowded around him. Luke 8:45.

Peter had great highs and lows, not always separated by much time. One day he declared that Jesus was the Messiah. Almost immediately he rebuked Jesus when he told the disciples he was going to die. Mark 8:29-32.

Peter made quick promises, and I am sure he intended to keep them. He said he would never deny Jesus, not even if he had to die with him. Matthew 26:35.

Jesus knew Peter’s heart. He knew Peter was someone worth working on, sometimes with honor, sometimes with stern reproach.

When Peter rebuked Jesus, Jesus made sure all his disciples knew who was really behind it: “Get behind me, Satan!” Mark 8:33.

But he spoke the words to Peter, and how humiliating, and heartbreaking, that must have been.


Peter was one of the few disciples Jesus invited to accompany him to the transfiguration, into the room of the dead girl he raised back to life, to stay close to him while he prayed in the garden. Matthew 17:1; Luke 8:51-56; Mark 14:33.

Surely the transfiguration must have been something that stole the disciples’ breath. But Peter didn’t want to admit he was speechless. He immediately said he had a good plan, to set up booths to honor Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. God the Father stepped in and handled the matter himself. He reminded Peter to listen to Jesus, and then they were left with “just plain Jesus,” as I once heard a teacher say. Matthew 17:1-8.

When Jesus walked on the water, Peter was quick to say he wanted to join him. Arrogant or brave? Maybe a little of both, but I wish I had Peter’s readiness to jump into the thick of things with Jesus. Matthew 14:28.

And yes, he did deny Jesus, but first, Peter was one of only two of Jesus’ disciples who went with him when he was put on trial. Everyone else ran away. John 18:15. Matthew 26:56.

Peter recognized his sin. He wept with heartbreak when Jesus looked at him after his denial. Luke 22:60-62.

Jesus knew how filled with sorrow Peter was after denying him. When the women found Jesus after his resurrection, he specifically named Peter as one they should inform. He wanted Peter to know how important he still was to Jesus. Mark 16:7.

Peter fumbled and stumbled and fell. But taking Jesus’ hand, he climbed to his feet and moved on. I see so much of my own weakness in Peter. Yet his example brings me great hope.

Peter knew he was a sinner, and he knew who to turn to for rescue.

Luke 5:8: When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”

Peter was a comfort to Jesus.

John 6:67-69: “‘You do not want to leave too, do you?’ Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.’”


Jesus asked Peter to care for his people. John 21:15-17. Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, and Jesus saved around three thousand people that day. Acts 2:41.


Peter was still bold and outspoken in Acts. Acts 3:12-25; Acts 5:1-10. Acts 5:29: “Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than human beings!’”

Peter was willing to speak of Jesus before the leaders, even though he understood how risky that would be. Acts 4:8-12.

Jesus gave Peter the privilege of helping to bring a believer back to life. Acts 9:39-41.

Peter was a respected leader in the new church. But he still messed up sometimes. Paul had to rebuke Peter for how he dealt with Gentiles. Galatians 2:11-14.

Did he mess up again? Knowing how Christians struggle as they live in the world—knowing my own heart—I believe he probably did.

But, two letters of his writing were given the honor of being in the Bible. Take time to study First and Second Peter.

1 Peter 1:3: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

1 Peter 5: 6-7: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Peter accepted God’s forgiveness and allowed himself to be used as a servant, teacher, carrier of hope. I pray that I can grow to take a few of his steps.

July Four

Since I started writing forty or so years ago, I’ve heard that anybody who wanted to be a writer should write something every day. Since I started writing again seriously almost three years ago, I still keep hearing that. I’m not good at it. So today I made a new file called “Just Write” and wrote down what first came to my mind. I can’t wait to see what comes up other days.

“Do we have to go to the fireworks, Mama?”

“The people want to go, so we’re going.”

“I didn’t like it last year.”

“You’re whining.”

“I’m a dog, Mama. I’m supposed to whine.”

“You’re supposed to growl. Come on, you’re not a baby anymore.”

“You said if I growl at you, you’ll bite me.”

“Yeah, so that means you won’t growl at me? Afraid of a little nip? I can’t believe a child of mine is such a wimp.”

“Don’t call me a wimp, Mama.”

“Wimp, wimp wimp wimp.”

“Mama, stop.”

“Wiiiiiiimmmmmmmmmmmmmmp.”

“Grrrrrrrr.”

“Wimp wimp wimp.”

“Grr grr grr grrrrrrrrrr.”

“Bite, bite, bite.”

“Grr grr bite bite.”

“Ou-oh-ou-oh, don’t bite your mama, ou-oh.”

“Yip yip yip, that was fun, Mama. Let’s do it again.”

“Let’s wait until tonight and do it at the fireworks.”

“Okay, Mama. I love you.”

Twenty Years of Public School

Benjamin, our youngest, graduated from high school today, June 14, 2015. This was our fifth graduation at Lakewood High School.

Benjamin, our final high-school graduate.

As we’ve been going to last minute senior meetings and functions, and seeing the same people we’ve seen for twelve years, my husband Murray tells them, “We’ve had kids in public school for twenty years now, and we’re tired of it.”

Are we? Am I?

I’ve been trying to bring back memories of all those years, and more and more have sneaked in.

The whole family with Sarah, who graduated from high school in 2010.

We lived in Kansas for five years and never had a close tornado until the last few months. We heard the warning that people should find shelter and made our way into the storage closet in the basement.

Of course, Murray had to go upstairs and take a look, and he found the school-bus driver sitting in the bus outside, waiting. He brought her inside to sit in the closet with us until everything was clear.

One of the most fun things I remember from the early years is sitting on the trampoline by the front door, waiting with the kids for the bus, and reading some of our favorite books—Narnia and Little House.

We’ve always told people that if they have a baby on the birthday of someone in our family, we’ll buy the baby a savings bond for $100. Sarah’s first grade teacher had a baby on December 17, Benjamin’s second birthday, so she collected.

When we lived in New York, the three middle kids were walking to school one day. Either Caleb’s or Sarah’s cane fell into a grate, and Rebecca decided to try to get it out with the other cane. Surprisingly, that one got lost in the grate too.

When I went back to work, and Murray got to be the stay-at-home parent, I moved to Cleveland about ten days before the rest of the family. Caleb said, when he came home from school one night while I was gone, “I don’t know what to do with my backpack.” (Since I wasn’t there to look through it with him.) Over the years, I’ve loved that I could actually read some of Caleb’s and Benjamin’s school papers, because they were in Braille.

We moved quite a bit in the early years, and all the kids but Benjamin did a lot of school jumping. Through moving and then searching for the right school for her once we were settled, Rebecca has a special memory of fourth grade. “I was the new kid four times that year.”

For the twelve school years I worked, Murray had responsibility for almost all of the kids’ needs. He talks about when he’d go with Benjamin to preschool meetings and get-togethers. “It was me and the other moms.”

Murray also got to handle most of the homework. He journeyed with the kids through Algebra II and geometry. We won’t even discuss how far I could have gotten.

The kids had fun projects. Murray says one of his favorite was helping Benjamin with a report on the Wright brothers and everything that went into getting a first flight. When Benjamin studied the history of the typewriter, I had my Mom send my old manual typewriter for him to take to school on the day of his presentation. Rebecca wrote a report on the safety of the subbasement in their school.

Our pet box turtle—Murray named him Scumbo—spent Rebecca’s fifth grade as the classroom pet.

In Sixth grade, Caleb won the “All Around Best Student Award.” As a senior, Sarah received the Wellesley College Book award, recommended by her teachers.

Other great memories. When I got home from work on Rebecca’s first day of high school, I jumped on her, hugging her and wailing, “I remember the day you were born.” She wrestled with me until we were both on the floor, then said, “You are so weird.”

Caleb got his guide dog, Esther, when he was seventeen. Every day of his senior year in high school, she attended with him. So of course, she walked with him at graduation too. He bought her a graduation hat for dogs. She didn’t like it much, but she’s a good sport.

Ping-Hwei decided he wanted to color his hair, like other kids in high school did. He wanted red hair, like Murray’s. Ping-Hwei has black hair, so Murray colored it white, then red. It turned out to be more orange, but Ping-Hwei smiled and went to school.

When Rebecca was in seventh grade, she had her head shaved for a fundraiser for research on children’s cancer. The school allowed her to wear a head covering for a while, but the first day after, she went to school bald.

Band, orchestra and choir concerts, IEP and other school meetings, football games the eight years Caleb and Benjamin were in the marching band. I confess—I only made it to a few of the football games. We were in the audience this year when Benjamin’s Academic Challenge team was on TV.

Now the older four kids have jobs, and Benjamin will start college in the fall. This chapter in our lives is over, and I’m not sure I’m glad.

But knowing our kids, I’m sure more exciting chapters are still ahead.

Abi of Cyrene

I want to recommend another book by one of my critique friends—ABI OF CYRENE by Mary Lou Cheatham. Check it out on amazon.com.

This excellent story is told by Abi, the wife of Simon of Cyrene who carried Jesus’ cross. We share in the true-to-life struggles between a husband and wife, the growth of a woman’s faith as she finds her own relationship with God, and a heart-squeezing look at the crucifixion of Christ. I am looking forward to reading it again.

The Lady and the Mountain Doctor

I recently read two novels which beautifully handle God’s love in the midst of a child’s death.

The first was DANGER IN THE SHADOWS by Dee Henderson. This is the prequel to the O’MALLEY series, which I love.

The second is a book by one of my critique partners. It’s a story set in a mining town in Montana in the 1870s. It is a lovely romance, and handles in an excellent way a brother’s guilt over his sister’s death when he was a young boy. I highly recommend this book, which can be seen here.

Jesus Got Down in the Dirt

Jesus got down in the dirt to help those who needed him.

He brought value to the sinful woman who wiped his feet with her hair. “‘Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.’ Then Jesus said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’” Luke 7:47-48

He asked that the stone be rolled away from Lazarus’ stinking tomb. John 11

He gave peace to the thief who died beside him. Luke 23:39-43

Jesus touched the leper. “A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.” Matthew 8:2-3

He met the widow in the middle of her son’s funeral and gave her back her child. And hope to survive. Luke 7:11-17

He rubbed clay in the eyes of the blind man. “After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. ‘Go,’ he told him, ‘wash in the Pool of Siloam’ (this word means ‘Sent’). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.” John 9:6-7

He met the woman at the well, rejected and unclean, and gave her a new mission. John 4

He welcomed the grimy, squalling children. “And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.” Mark 10:16

Jesus’ closest followers were some who most needed help out of the dirt.

He pulled Peter out of the water as he began to sink with fear. Matthew 14:27-31

Then Jesus lifted Peter out of the mire he wallowed in after denying his Lord. John 21:15-17

Jesus found James and John, angry and impulsive young men, and added them to his closest friends. Mark 3:16-17; Luke 9:49-55

He found Matthew and Zacchaeus, hated by their community, and asked them into his family. Matthew 9:9; Luke 19:1-10

Jesus got down in the dirt. He met people right where they were, loved them, and didn’t leave them in the dirt.

He claimed as his daughter the woman who had suffered for twelve years from bleeding and shame. He held the hand of the little girl who died, and gave her back to her parents, alive. Mark 5:21-43

He knelt in the dirt and waited with the woman caught in adultery, until all her accusers left. The only one there who had never sinned, Jesus, was left with the wretched woman, and he did not condemn her. John 8

He met the father whose son could not be healed, the man who scratched to find faith, and rewarded him with all that he could hope for. Mark 9:14-27

For the man filled with demons, fighting with such fierceness that he broke his chains, Jesus gave him clothes. And Sanity. Mark 5:1-20

There is nowhere, no depth of sin and waste, where Jesus will not meet us. When we are damaged, hurting, faltering, Jesus does not push us away. He holds our hand and helps us up. “He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope.” Matthew 12:17-21

New Goals and Baby Steps

My Cousin recently had a stroke. As she recovered and is working through rehab, she is diligent about keeping up with her therapy and on staying involved with as many of her old activities as she can. My mother tells me my cousin says, “Baby steps.”

What a point of view.

It’s so easy to want to move fast, to do big things, to accomplish much. But sometimes, more can be accomplished with slow, steady, careful “baby” steps.

I am finding this a lesson which I need to learn again. All my life, I’ve been busy, active, on the move. Almost three years ago, I had a brain injury which caused me to have to quit work—and slow down. I’m having to learn new ways to keep myself busy and useful. This is a humbling experience.

I can remember long days of playing with my children, cooking, laundry, cleaning the house, trying to be an interesting companion to my husband. When I worked outside the home, I put in long hours, often getting up at four-fifteen in the morning so I could be at work by six. I wanted to complete my assigned work and make sure it was done in good quality. I liked when people told me they found me someone they could depend on, and I enjoyed interacting with coworkers and helping students.

Now I find myself unable to physically and mentally perform many of the tasks I used to do. I can no longer work so many hours in a day, and I need to take breaks to rest. Because of this, I have struggled with laziness and depression.

How I thank God that he doesn’t believe an old dog can’t learn new tricks. I am thankful that he stays beside me, whispering in my ear, teaching me that there are still new and beautiful turns my life can take.

I have to laugh at myself. As a person with a visual impairment, I’ve always been resentful when I felt other people didn’t think me capable or competent. Since my accident, it seems I’ve focused on all the new disabilities I have, all the things I can no longer do. Instead, I need to realize that it’s okay for me to have new goals.

My husband still needs my companionship, and we are enjoying spending more time together. My children are grown now and don’t need me to play with them anymore. Yet, since I’m no longer working, I’m able to spend much more time with them. I’m enjoying getting to know them as adults and praying for the wisdom to meet the needs they still have for me.

Slowly, I am accepting the activities and tasks which I am still able to perform. I can encourage friends and family with phone calls, emails, gifts, and prayers. I am encouraging myself to keep up with the simple, necessary tasks that I can still do around the house.

I’m finding it healthy to make a new routine for myself. I’m trying to schedule housework, writing, and/or work on my Braille proofreading class into each day. Maybe I’ll cook a meal each week. Even if it’s in small amounts of time, small amounts of work that I accomplish, I want to teach myself that’s acceptable and useful. Baby steps.