In loving memory of my father-in-law, Peter Moroney ~ Pop-pop. Thank you for encouraging me and for not giving up on me. I wish I had let you help me with those crossword puzzles and I wish I had never given up.
“Be strong and courageous and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” 1 Chronicles 28:20
My father-in-law, Pete, passed away just before Thanksgiving. I’ve spent a lot of time since then thinking about him and remembering the impact he had in my life. In some ways, I didn't even realize the impact he had on me until now.
Right after high school, I went to work at National Car Rental in the Sarasota Airport. Back then, the airport consisted of one runway (maybe two) and one very small building. It was so small, in fact, that I could shoot a rubber band from my car rental counter and hit the people at the airline check-in counter across the walkway (I know this for fact because I used to do that often ~ not at customers but at the people working there).
I worked the late shift and there was a big lull between the last two flights of the night. If I had been busy that day, it was a good opportunity to catch up on reports and to get things ready for the next morning’s shift. But when it was slow, which was often, it was a great opportunity to talk to the other people at the other counters ~ or to shoot rubber bands at them.
This is where I met Pete Moroney. We struck up a conversation and before I knew it, he was bringing me the crossword puzzle to do. Now, let me stop here and say that Pete was very, very smart. We tried for years to get him to go on Jeopardy but he wouldn’t. He was that smart. I, however, am not that smart, and I told Pete this often. But every time Pete had the opportunity, he would bring me the crossword puzzle. And each time, I would say, “Pete, I can’t do this!” And he would say, “Yes you can. Here, I’ll help you.”
So he would start methodically going through the clues. “One across . . . . Eight letters. Where the Spanish bulls run."
“Awww come on, Pete. I don’t know.” (and inside I was thinking “and I don’t really care.”)
“Sure you do. You know this. I know you do. It starts with a P.”
Sigh! “Ok, Pamplona.”
“Yes! See I told you you knew this. Ok five across: Geodesi Dome inventor?”
“Seriously, Pete, I don’t even know what the heck the Geodesi Dome is, where it is or why I should care about it.”
And on it would go until, thankfully, one of us would get called away to do some work.
Pete didn’t prod me to do the crossword puzzle to show me how smart he was or to make me feel stupid or inferior. He didn’t do it to embarrass me or to make himself look good. I’ve come to realize that Pete encouraged me to do the crossword puzzle because he believed that I could. Because he thought that with a little help and encouragement from him, and if I tried and didn’t give up, then I could accomplish what he had put before me. And, he never gave up on me ~ even though I gave up on myself.
Now, over 25 years later, I’ve realized that those moments with Pete were an example of how our heavenly Father believes in us. And an example of how He will never, ever give up on us. Even when we give up on ourselves, God will not give up on us. Even when we turn our backs on Him and try to walk away, He will be there patiently and lovingly waiting for us to turn back to Him and ask Him for His help.
When God asks us to do something that seems impossible, it isn’t to make us feel inferior, insignificant or defeated. No, it’s because He believes in us. He believes that if we depend on Him, if we ask questions and if we don’t give up, then we can accomplish amazing things that we think are beyond our abilities.
There have been many times in my life when I have disobeyed God and tried to go my own way. There have been times when I just didn’t feel like doing what He asked. And there have been times when I’ve been so darn frustrated with waiting that I’ve tried to give up. But God tugs at my heart and continually encourages me to keep going. He won’t give up on me. He believes in me. And, like Pete asking me to complete the crossword puzzle just one clue at a time, God asks me to walk with Him just one step at a time.
Psalm 23:6 says: “Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
God will follow us all the days of our lives and we will dwell in His house forever. He has made a vow, a covenant, with His children to be with us forever and ever and ever.
“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.” Deuteronomy 7:9
God won’t give up on me. And He won’t give up on you. He is here with us all the time. He is encouraging us to take just one step at a time with Him. Because He knows that we can and because He believes in us. Because He loves us and He wants us to know Him. Let’s take one step with Him and walk with Him together. He will encourage us and help us every step of the way ~ even when we think we can’t possibly go another step. He won’t give up on us. He won’t let us go. So let’s not let go of Him.
Remember: “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.”
Thank You, Father for always encouraging us to do things that we think we can’t do. Thank You for believing in us even when we don’t believe in ourselves. Give us the courage and perseverance to walk with You; even when we feel like we can’t possibly take another step. Thank You for never giving up on us. And forgive us when we give up on You. Thank You for never ever letting us go. We love You and want to know You more. You are awesome!! ~~robin
