"My Three Sons"

My Three Sons
Matthew, Benton, and Scott - Cathedral Ledge, N. Conway, NH
October 1992




 This is a picture of "My Three Sons"...no, not the old TV sitcom with Fred MacMurray and William Frawley and three boys I can't remember...but MY Three Sons: Matthew, Benton, and Scott.  This is my favorite picture of my three sons...why?  Well, I believe it is the very last picture I have of all three of them together before they left the home-nest for good and went their separate ways in search of whatever life God had in store for each of them.  At this particular time Benton and Matt had already left home to go off to college, and Scott was still in high school. 



Matt, Noah, and Nicole May, 2010

 We had just moved to New Hampshire to pastor a church, and this was Benton and Matt's first trip "home" to visit us at the new home they had not yet seen.  A certain young lady from our church volunteered (rather cheerfully, I might add) to take the boys on a tour of the countryside and help them get acquainted with their new surroundings.  That same certain young lady became our daughter in law about ten months later, when Matthew and Nicole tied the knot...and "My Three Sons" became My Three Sons and a Daughter in Law! And thus began the enlarging of our family tree and the metamorphosis of our family as we knew it.  This was a happy event and pleasant change, which later resulted in the introduction of our first (and so far, only) grandson, Noah. You can read more about Matthew's saga over the past year through previous episodes of this blog.  We are very thankful that he is still doing well in his battle against the aggressive cancer (Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor) that invaded his body just about one year ago exactly. We are trusting God for a positive outcome and a long and prosperous life for Matt and his precious family.



Benton with Grandpa

And what happened to the other two sons?  Well, they are still writing their own life stories.  They are each unique and wonderful in their own right...you can see more about Benton on my blog-page "Ben's Country Woodshop".  He is currently living here at home again after many years away from home. That is a story in itself that I am saving for another day when God releases it from within my heart.  He is a joy and a blessing to us in so many ways.  Scott is still living in NH, right back there in the shadow of "Cathedral Ledge", cooking in one of the local restaurants and enjoying the snow.  He is healthy and seems happy, and for that we are grateful.

Scott



We are not sure what the future holds for any of our boys, but again, we are trusting God to complete the plans that He has promised for each of them.  For each of "My Three Sons" I prayed, both before they were ever born, and of course, every day thereafter.  At an early age we, as their parents, committed and dedicated them to the Lord, and one by one, in their own time, each one accepted that faith in Christ for himself.  So I have faith that God will continue to care for them, long after I leave this earth.  He has given me that assurance, and I have no reason to doubt it. 

God says to us in Jeremiah 29:11,

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."  

I have applied this verse to myself many times, and believe I can also claim it for my three sons as well.  During these days of tremendous unrest in our world, we are all feeling a bit anxious over the future of our nation and our world...but I still can rest...and trust...

"Bless the Lord, O my soul; and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."  Psalms 103:2-5  

Yes, my heart cries out with the Psalmist, 

Our family today...this picture was added later, when we finally all got together again for my father's funeral, April, 2011.  Bittersweet Time.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name." (Psalm 103:1)    Amen.