"Daddy, I Felled" - Linda Rondeau

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1 NIV

The two-year-old darted around the apartment like a butterfly in a flower garden, touching this and climbing that. Her father kept coming from the kitchen to remind her to be still. “Kaylee, sit down. Wait until I finish fixing your lunch.”

As soon as his back was turned, she tumbled about from couch to chair, jumping and oblivious to her father’s warnings.

“Kaylee, stop jumping. You’re going to get hurt.” He gently picked her up and set her back down on the floor, then retreated into the kitchen.

Every piece of furniture proved to be a challenge waiting to be conquered. Her desire to explore the world proved insatiable.

“Kaylee, sit down now, while I fix your soup,” the father said. “It’s almost ready.”

She scurried to her favorite chair. While her father’s attention was turned away, she stood and rocked it, tumbling onto the floor with a loud bang. Her father rushed to her side.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she sobbed, “Daddy, I felled.”

She deserved to be punished. She deserved to go to time-out and think about her contrariness. Her father would have been within his rights to scold her for not listening. The fall was the child’s fault. In her stubbornness, she pursued the course of disobedience. But rather than chide, her dad simply kissed her tears and said, “It’s alright, Kaylee. Daddy’s here now.”

From that moment on, Kaylee sat in her chair as a proper young lady should.

As believers, we sometimes pursue paths against God’s good advice. In the course of time, we stumble and fall. Though we deserve condemnation, He rushes to cover us with His love. He desires for us to turn to Him and say, “Daddy, I felled. I was wrong to disobey you.”

When we do, He picks us up, wipes away our tears and reminds us, “It’s all right. Your Father is here.” Let the one who heals all wounds comfort you.


Linda Rondeau is a wife, mother, grandmother, writer, dramatist, and sometimes speaker. A twenty-five-year veteran of human services, she resides in Northern New York with her husband of thirty-two years. Writing credits include Christian Fiction On-line, Adams Media anthologies, Focus on the Family, and Kid’s Ark Magazine. She contributes a spiritual life issues column for her local newspaper, This Daily Grind. More of her writings can be viewed on her website: http://www.lindarondeau.com/. Write to her at http://www.blogger.com/lrondeau@westelcom.
Read Linda's devotions.

A Different View - Linda Rondeau

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name” Psalm 100:4 NIV

Desperate for church workers, the young people in our small congregation held major positions in the church. At fourteen, I taught Sunday school, was president of our youth group, and sang in the choir. Yet, Sunday mornings were anything but inspiring, especially the music. The organist and pianist dueled over tempos, and I was the lone alto in our all-female choir.

The sermons seemed equally dull. While the pastor preached, I watched three-year-old Mark crawl undetected beneath the pews while his mother pretended to read the bulletin. Most Sundays, the only revelation I gained was that children are squirrelly and Pastor Cliff had a bald spot on the back of his head.

That was before Don came to our church.

Every Sunday he sat on the front pew with his three children with his wonderful smile. He offered a hearty “Amen” from time to time. While the choir muddled through another sour anthem, Don flashed a broad grin. For some reason, the choir actually sounded better.

Don’s off-key notes drowned out those of the other congregants. Yet, his voice possessed a melodic quality—a vibrato from the heart. The words of the song filled my hungering soul, once I paid attention.

Flecks of snow mixed with rain one cold Sunday. Attendance, lower than usual, reduced our choir to a trio. As the sermon began, I retreated to my habit of congregation gazing, stopping at Don’s smile. Curious, I focused on the sermon.

“If we come to God’s house expecting a blessing, He will never disappoint us. True worship is the expectation of communing with God.”

I finally understood. Don’s spiritual fulfillment didn’t require dramatic presentations or professionally produced anthems. For him, worship was an appointment with God. How could God meet me if I didn’t expect Him?

It’s a different view from the back pew of middle age than the balcony of a teenager’s skepticism. I no longer sit in a choir loft.

We are blessed with a talented worship team, and our pastor is a dynamic speaker. While I’m appreciative of the talents that enrich our corporate worship, these are exterior trappings. When my mind wanders, as it is prone to do, I think of Don who now sings with angels. I discount the discordant imperfections and ask God to pluck the strings of my heart with His perfect Spirit.

Look for the blessings in church. God never disappoints.


Linda Rondeau is a wife, mother, grandmother, writer, dramatist, and sometimes speaker. A twenty-five year veteran of human services, she resides in Northern New York with her husband of thirty-two years. Writing credits include Christian Fiction On-line, Adams Media anthologies, Focus on the Family, and Kid’s Ark Magazine. She contributes a spiritual life issues column for her local newspaper, This Daily Grind. More of her writings can be viewed on her website: www.lindarondeau.com. Write to her at lrondeau@westelcom.

Read Linda's devotions.

God's Home! - Linda Rondeau

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel—which mans, “God with us.” Matthew 1:22 – 23 NIV

The pastor made a habit to go to his church study in the early evening during the winter months. The four-year-old who lived across the street watched the light come on each night at six o’clock. Each evening he remarked to his mother, “God’s home.”

This time of year, I look forward to the decorations. In the evenings, I turn off all the house lights and bask in the golden glow of our Christmas tree before we take them down and store them away for another year.

I wonder how the shepherds must have felt when the night sky was filled with splendor and angelic beings heralded the birth of the long-awaited Messiah. “You will find him in a manger,” they said. They never questioned the heavenly visitors, but I imagine some were curious as to why God’s son was born in a humble stable.

“God’s home,” they said. “Let’s go and see what has happened.” They found the baby just as the angel described.

I wonder how the astronomers of the East must have felt when a brilliant star muted all the others and fixed itself over a small humble village. So curious was the event, they traveled many months to find the reason. “God’s home,” they said, “and we will find him where the star hovers.” So they left to follow the light.

I wonder, as a believer, whether anyone looking at my life would say, “God’s home.” Would anything they see in me be worth imitating? Would they see a reflection of the One who sent that star? Start the new year out by striving to be Christ-like. It’s not easy but we have the assurance that when we need help…”God’s home.” Let His light shine through you this year.

Linda Rondeau is a wife, mother, grandmother, writer, dramatist, and sometimes speaker. A twenty-five year veteran of human services, she resides in Northern New York with her husband of thirty-two years. Writing credits include Christian Fiction On-line, Adams Media anthologies, Focus on the Family, and Kid’s Ark Magazine. She contributes a spiritual life issues column for her local newspaper, This Daily Grind. More of her writings can be viewed on her website: www.lindarondeau.com. Write to her at lrondeau@westelcom.