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Apples of Gold
Radio Script for December 23, 2009
“The Look in the Eyes of My Children”
Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.
Back in the days before iPods and .mp3’s and even CD players, way back a long time ago we had . . . cassettes.
So being a radio guy, I used to make a special cassette tape for Christmas each year and give it to family and friends. It included some holiday highlights, some of the best Christian songs from that year, and my favorite part was little snippets of our kids.
We have four children, and I would gather them around the microphone and turn them loose, singing songs, telling stories, reciting pieces from school plays, etc.
But then they started growing up and somewhere in the 90’s I quit making cassettes for Christmas.
Well the other day I came across some of those old tapes and decided to give them a listen. And there were the kids, as goofy as ever. And then it hit me. Why not make another recording?
So last night we got them all together again, and I loved it because the room was full of joy and laughter, just like when they were little.
And now listen to this. I am so thankful to God that there was no elephant in the room.
What do I mean by that?
Well, to be blunt, I’m glad my wife and I are still together. I’m glad there was no divorce or separation or even a big fight.
Let me spell it out even more. I’m glad we somehow had sense enough to keep our marriage strong, which provided an incredible foundation for our children. That way, when we got together last night, there was no elephant in the room. The kids could share the same joy and silliness that they had years ago without any little edge like, “Gee, it’s too bad Mom isn’t here,” or “This would have been so much better, Dad, if you hadn’t wrecked the family.”
I know that sounds bad, but my goodness, I have seen it happen to so many other families, and it just seems to take the twinkle out of the kids’ eyes. When parents do dumb things, it sucks some of the joy out of the children.
So why didn’t we do that? Am I saying we are somehow better or smarter?
Not at all, but I do have a reason, and it really ties into Christmas.
John 1:9 gives us a look at Christmas from a different angle. It says, “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.”
Jesus is the true light, and Christmas is the time we remember the true light coming into the world.
And He came to give light to every man. And His light is a life-giving light, like the sun. His light not only brings light, but life.
So when my wife and I became Christians, when we bowed to the lordship of Christ, His light came into our lives. His light brought life into our lives.
By their own selfish desires, so many parents have plagued their families. How did we avoid that plague? Well here’s what I think.
I think it’s the light of Jesus Christ. And I think His light helps us see the longer run, the bigger picture. His light literally helps us see beyond the desires of the flesh. It helps us see beyond instant gratification.
And now we are enjoying the fruits of it. Just seeing our children in that recording session last night brought me such a deep joy. And it’s a joy that is not like some momentary happiness, it’s a deep satisfaction.
It’s the difference between giving in to the flesh to make myself happy, versus following the Lord and receiving something almost incomprehensible from Him.
I say incomprehensible because I don’t understand it. It kind of sneaks up on you. You deny yourself certain options, certain choices that other people are making. You do it, kind of out of blind faith, just because God said to. And then it dawns on you, “Wow, there are great rewards for doing things God’s way.”
And to me, it all comes back to that true light coming into the world. Jesus gave me light enough to see beyond my own selfish desires and my own flesh. His light revealed how things could be, how things should be, and that’s the path I took.
And I received a reward for it last night. It wasn’t in cash. It wasn’t in fame or recognition.
It was simply the look in the eyes of my children, the look that comes when there is no elephant in the room.
So this Christmas I am thanking God for what took place in a manger in Bethlehem, because it was not just the birth of a baby.
It was the true light, that gives light to every man, coming into the world.
And it was that light that let me see beyond my own flesh to what was best for my family – thank you, Lord!
Comments?
E-mail me: dougapple@wave94.com.
May God bless you today! With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
(close with little clip of kids from Christmas cassette 1995)
After reading you may ask, “But what about me, Doug? I’ve already been that plague you described. I’ve made some serious mistakes, and I see the effect on my children. Now what?” Well you can’t change the past, but you can still surrender it all to Jesus. You can still do things God’s way from here on out. Repent of any unrepented sins and turn it all over to God. Then walk in His light, that same true light I was talking about. His light will help you see beyond any plague, beyond any depression or wallowing in guilt or self pity. His light will brighten things up! And as your life brightens, you, in turn, will be able to brighten the lives of all around you, including your own children. God is in the restoring business, and He is well able to make up for any mistakes we made in the past. It all comes down to this – Jesus and His true light coming into our lives.
© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip
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(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)
Why “The Arrow’s Tip”? Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold. Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.” I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.
Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL 32315
(850) 926-8000
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