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There's a fine line between bravery and stupidity.
I prefer to proceed with wisdom ...and not my own.
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"Darkness cannot drive out darkness ...only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate ...only love can do that."
---Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Wife: "What are you ...a man or a mouse!"
Husband: "Having so profoundly narrowed it down to only those two precise possibilities, you surely know the answer to that. Indeed, if I were a mouse, you'd be standing on a chair screaming, not so bravely and boldly asking me such a silly rhetorical question."
Whether girl or boy, after reading this story ...hopefully you'll have the answers to more serious questions, or perhaps some grave concerns you may have.
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by
()ur Friend /\/\yron
Even a dirty rat can be change ...if we don't make them think they can't. We too often tell them what they've been or what they are ...when instead, we should tell them of the good we see in them and what they can become.
(back cover:) This book, 'Xavier', is episode 2 ---following Xavier's Treasures, episode 1, 'The Perfect Plan'.
Gymnasts usually begin training at a very young age to develop their strength and flexibility as they grow.
They often miss out on many other things in life as the rigor of their training calls for strict focus and commitment.
What do they miss out on?
Well, some of what they've missed experiencing may have been good for them to miss ...other things not so much.
As a child's mind muscle is developing, school seems necessary to integrate into their daily routine.
Hopefully, their schooling doesn't exclude gaining some of the simple knowledge discussed in this book.
Read to them ...
Start them young!!
'The Perfect Plan' is the first episode of the 'Xavier's Treasures' series. The second book is 'Xavier', its episode also with the same title.
The author, Dr. Myron Gaul, has written these two books which are intended to teach basic Biblical Theology to children, equipping them to face the larger questions in life.
By using the simplest of creatures, this series illustrates the profound effect the Bible can and should have upon all of Creation.
When parents read to their children, it ignites an interest that may have a profound and lasting influence upon their young impressionable minds. They can see the joy in your face and hear the excitement in your voice as you read to them. And it is particularly powerful when Dad & Mom choose characters to voice, lovingly reading together as the children snuggle into their beds after praying together at their bedside.
You may also find that they sleep better, carrying with them those warm and comforting thoughts of the family being together ...equipping them for their next exciting day.
I've heard a few sermons on gossip ...and maybe there should be more. I have to admit that I've been guilty of it. But not this time.
I heard some whispering.
But it was not gossip ...it was loving concern. Sometimes we whisper because we are concerned with the condition of another person, and then we can pray about it.
The concern here is that Myron may be going through the early stages of dementia. We can never fully grasp what that is like because when it happens, the person seldom can tell us how they feel ...they don't know. But, I think Myron knew somewhat what was happening ...and though he didn't say anything to me about it, I felt he was telling me something. Myron spend so many years loving and encouraging people ...and it seems that perhaps knowing that he didn't have much time left on this earth, he had a sense that there was still more that he could do.
Over a dozen years ago, Myron had written a children's book, 'Xavier's Treasures'. He had published the first episode 'The Perfect Plan', but obviously, if it's listed as the first episode ...it would seem there would be at least a second episode.
That was in 2012, and now it is 2025 ...and one Sunday I was surprised when Myron said he was going to call me the following week. We had never talked on the phone ...we see each other every Sunday, as he is the Associate Pastor of the church I go to ...sitting in the front row as Pastor Tom conducts the service.
I didn't expect Myron was going to remember to call me, so I asked him the following Sunday what he wanted to talk to me about. That seemed to spark his memory, and he eagerly said, "Follow me!"
Myron led me to his office and handed me a black book, telling me it was the second episode of 'Xavier's Treasures'. When he handed it to me, I immediately opened it wondering how he could have ever written it in his present condition, and if I could even read it or make any sense of it. But, I was relieved when I saw the handwritten date ...2012. And I could easily read it.
He also told me there was something more that he wanted to write, to add to the story ...a dedication to his wife.
Myron and his wife would always sit in the front row. His wife is very active in serving at the church, and before the service starts she will stand up front at the microphone when she gives an announcement about church activity. For years, we saw that when Mikki would return to her seat, Myron would stand up until she sat down, then he would sit back down. I always thought that was a loving testimony of how Myron was, and also his view of his wife.
Two Sundays in a row, I asked Myron if he had written the dedication to his wife ...and he would light up, "Oh yes, I'll have it for you next Sunday!"
The third Sunday, Myron eagerly led me to his office again, and handed me an envelop that had 'dedication to my wife' written on the outside of the envelop. But there was nothing on the inside of the envelop. He said, "It's here somewhere ...I'll find it."
And though I never did get it from Myron, I know he did find it ...in his heart. And I did truly get it from Myron ...the full sense of how much he loved his wife. I saw it all the time.
These were the two things he wanted. He always knew that it is important to reach out to children to give them proper hope and direction early in life ...so, he wanted to share that one more episode he had written. And he very much wanted to give a written dedication to his lovely wife.
And if you haven't already guessed, he asked me to type up and publish his second episode.
I truly wanted to help Myron, so I worked hard to type up what he had written. I didn't think I could do as well as those who had helped him with the first episode ...and I kind of wondered why he'd pick me.
But, I do have a bit of an idea why. Myron and I have sort of similar senses of humor ...though he is more witty than me. Even now, he still has his wit ...it is hanging on, while other things are not so much doing so. His wit is often immediate and and his timing right on. But, it seems to me that the more deeper emotions are perhaps more difficult for him, and that would include his ability to presently put into words his precise deep feelings about his wife and about God. I wrote a book a few years ago, 'Chain-Link Fences', and I gave Myron a copy. I was told he reads a lot, and I asked him if he would read it. He said he certainly would, and I told him the first part of the book was sort of like a Bible study ...then the remainder of the book was short stories. I asked him if he would tell me if I got any of the Bible part wrong.
When I saw him the next Sunday, he said he had read the book. I asked him if I got any of the Bible part wrong. His reply surprised me, but it shouldn't have, as Myron was always encouraging, "It's the best book I've ever read!"
I didn't want to minimize the kindness in that statement, so I said, "A-hhh, thank you ..."
I was thinking of something witty or sarcastic to say. Now, I know many of you don't fully understand sarcasm ---and I don't blame you, because even the dictionary says it's not a good thing, and if you have a psychology book on hand ---the 'experts' will say it's even worse. But, when I say many of you don't fully understand it, you may say, "Oh, so you know better than the experts!", and then Sigmund Freud's name often comes up. But, I still contend that when you quote the experts, have you thought that perhaps you are the one who has falsely labeled 'sarcasm'? Yes, perhaps you should use a different word ...but, then again, I see that Freud has also attributed similar things to what he says are underlying feeling behind humor and wit also. We could probably psychoanalyze each other all day, but I don't want to do that ...it's not a good thing to do, and I would probably enjoy it too much.
Okay, I was thinking of something to say ---and if you'd like to label it wit, humor, or sarcasm ---go ahead. I love Myron ...and I was thinking, "You read more books in a year than I have in a lifetime. And about three-quarters of the books I've read were comic books ...and still, my book isn't even close to the best book I have read, certainly it couldn't be the best he has ever read." But, I didn't say anything. It was a kind thing Myron said, even though I was rather confident that ...well, I was expecting he then whispered to himself, "today", as in the best book he read that day. And Myron is an encourager. What harm would there be in that? It's not like I think I have a great singing voice, and am standing before Simon Cowell ...or that I think I can cook, and am standing before Gordon Ramsay.
Anyway, I think when I asked Myron those few years ago to tell me if he felt I got anything wrong with what I wrote with my Bible comments ...I think he realized that it means a lot to me how I represent God's Word, as it is His Word that represents Him. And that's the best way to glorify God ...is to represent Him accurately. And though, as humans, we can never fully accomplish that ---and we get hung up on own interpretations vs other people's interpretations, and our ideas thrown in with other people's ideas ---I think Myron sensed I have a heart for God, and that I want to glorify Him, even though I mess up all the time. And it is this, plus the fact that we perhaps share similar wit, humor, or sarcasm ---however you may label it. We both know it is part of our true love language ---and we know it's love.
So, that's kind of how I feel I came to be asked by Myron ...though I'm not ruling out that perhaps God had him ask me.
And if Myron is still around when I get around to publishing this second book ---and I hope he is, for a long time ---I do hope, and I've been praying that Myron can give me a short (shorter than I'm doing here) and loving dedication to his wife, which I know and have witnessed is his true heartfelt desire. But, if he can't remember to do it, or can't seem to focus long enough to do it ---well, I don't know what to do. He wanted both the book and the dedication.
I've typed the book ...and I know he is eager for that, so how long do I wait for the dedication? I've seen the dedication ...I think everyone has. And I admit, I already wrote up a dedication for Myron, to his wife.
And here it is:
To my lovely wife Mikki ...it may sound cliche' to say that words cannot describe what she means to me. Yet, close your eyes and think of Jesus ...and think of what He has done for you. Now, open your eyes and think of the many loved ones that are present in your life. And yes, there is that special someone who God directed into your life ...and that is your spouse. I wholeheartedly thank God for the one He has directed into my life. And I thank you, Mikki, for being what God would have you be ...with Him, and with me. That's the most heartfelt and meaningful thing I can say ...anything else may seem effusively gushy, and that's between you & me.
I imagine that Myron would say something like that!!
But, I want him to write it ...but if he can't, then perhaps God did know that I would. I just want to be honest about it ...and honestly, you all should know how much Myron loves you all. Don't just look for the words ...look deeper. Jesus mentioned 'love' many times, yet it mostly referred to the way we should love others. Only a few times is His love for us 'directly' mentioned ---of course, we know of John 3:16, and there is also John 14:21, John 15:9 ---yes, Jesus mostly mentioned how we are to love one another because of how much we struggle with that. Jesus mentioned two main commandments for us ...to love God, and to love one another. How about His love for us? Jesus certainly showed us His love for us. Yes, how can we ignore an outward expression of love, not hidden by anyone, but displayed on a hillside for all to see.
Of course, reading about it and visualizing how it was ...we can see that what they were trying to show the world with their public crucifixions, was actually showing us something much deeper that they could not see. Look deep ...and each time, feel the depth of His love.
Myron has the love of Jesus within him, and we can see that love.
Thanks Myron!!
John 14:21 ---"Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
John 15:9 ---“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love."
