Hidden Strength

This sloping roadway is part of the improvements to the Orana Mall in Dubbo. The whole extension work is world class and cost some 23 million dollars. Hundreds of cars make use of this up ramp that leads to roof top parking from where the shoppers can go down into the Mall via a lift or escalator.

Probably most people driving up this incline don’t give a thought to the work that went into its construction but as you can see in these two photos it didn’t “just happen”; tons of steel reinforcement were used in the concrete and the bracings underneath held it in position until it was strong enough to stand alone. None of this was guesswork either, as Architects and Engineers have worked out what is necessary and the information is all contained in books relating to the “Building Requirements Code”. Building Engineers, although trained in University still have to refer to these books to refresh their memories and keep in-touch with the Architect who planned it all as the work progresses, because they cannot remember every detail. This is the very reason that we also need to continually refer to the “Requirements Code” book for living (called the Bible) because guesswork is not good enough.  Circumstances are continually changing for us and without a daily “refresher course” we are bound to make some dreadful mistakes. Therefore, keeping in-touch with God (the “Architect” who designed us) is essential.

 If we are parents we need to look at the second photo and lay reinforcement in our children’s lives as directed in the scriptures, thus we will “Bring up a child in the way he shall go, and when he is old he will not depart from it”. The support shown in the third photo is the equivalent of the support that a child will receive in Sunday School, Church and Christian Youth Clubs, and just as support is absolutely necessary until concrete sets, so it is absolutely necessary for the child and young person as they “rub Shoulders” with unacceptable behaviour in the community and in the electronic media.

Of course we must also set a good example ourselves or we may place a “stumbling block” in their path. Jesus said if we do “it would be better if we had never been born”. Therefore, if we have done this we must repent. The Old Testament book of Deuteronomy Chapter 11 and Verse 18 (written several thousand years ago) says “Commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine….teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” When I was young there was a plaque on our kitchen wall that read “Christ is the head of this house, the unseen guest at every meal, the silent listener to every conversation”. Which was a sobering thought that complied with the above, and interestingly I remember it 70 years later.

To put this into context for to-day Proverbs 13:24 says “Those who love their children care enough to discipline them”. (New Living Bible). One of these disciplines is to take them to church from the week they are born. Another is to pray with them before they leave for school each day and read the 23^rd or 91^st Psalm with them. Then obtain a book of bible stories and read a story to them at bed time as you pray with them. Then when you are out and see a tree, a flower or an animal, point out how wonderfully God made it. You will also have to “text” God continually with prayer to help you. This may sound a lot, but Audrey and I did everything in this last paragraph and it worked. So I can highly recommend it. Best wishes with that, Tom.

Did I hear you say “I’m not a parent?” Well one day you might be, but if that is not likely or possible then please pass this on to someone who is, or might be.