Those God Honors

God has no reason to honor humanity. It almost feels blasphemous to consider such a thought, yet when we reflect on the myriad ways He has honored humans, it is pretty amazing. He left heaven to endure this sinful earthly experience.

He hung on a shameful, painful cross for a wretch like me.

He showed mercy to the ungrateful Israelites and softened His heart upon hearing Moses’ plea. He honors our simple requests and needs and even fulfills our wants as He sees fit. It has been so amazing to witness the miraculous way He has honored my two children. It so happens that, unlike me, both of my children are athletically inclined.

One day my nine-year-old son came home from school and informed me of a baseball league he wanted to join. We visited the office, signed up, and then realized that most of the practices and games were scheduled for Saturdays.

Flashbacks kept surfacing of kids whose parents failed to put them in activities, fearful that they would be unsuccessful because they would not participate on the Sabbath. Not a few of these kids have lived with regret and even resentment because they felt they had “missed out on life” for being an Adventist. I distinctly recall Pastor Aswin Somasundaram’s discussion with me before my baptism. He told me that being an Adventist is not about what you cannot do but about what you can do! I spoke to the coach and told him that my son would still join and benefit from the activities on any other day but the Sabbath.

Well, the first few practices were on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and then the first game was scheduled for Sabbath, of course. It rained all day, and the game was postponed to the following Tuesday. It is unbelievable but true that most of the games and practices that year were rescheduled to a weekday or even Sunday, and my son was able to participate in most games. He was grateful that God did that for him. He is now in high school, and on his first day on the team, he spoke to his coach and explained he would not participate on Sabbaths. It was amazing how the coach respected and appreciated his standing up for his beliefs. How vital it is to teach our children that when they honor God, He will honor them.

Caren Henry Broaster