October 27, 2015 (Tuesday)
When my great grand daughter was visiting here a few weeks ago, her mother, Jennifer, and I decided we needed to let the child know what to call her great grand father, and so we decided that my name for her to use would be “Papa.” It was the name of one of my grandfathers and everyone in the family called him by that name. He was my father’s father, and it was the name used by all his children as they grew up. Claire caught on immediately, and called me “Papa” for the rest of her visit. Did I mention she is a very intelligent child?
My mother’s father, however, had a different name. We called him, “Big Dad,” and we called his wife, “Mama.” So it was always “Big Dad and Mama” when referring to the grandparents in whose home my sisters and I spent a great deal of time when growing up.
I have talked about “Big Dad” quite often in these blogs. We were very close. The last thing he would ever think of doing was something that would hurt me in any way whatsoever. So it grieved him greatly that one of the things he did when I was about 5 years old really scared me.
It must have been the Halloween season, because he made me a mask out of a paper grocery sack. He cut holes for the eyes and drew the other features of a face with 
crayola. I’m sure we could not afford to buy a mask, so he was making up for that by creating one for me. To demonstrate, he made one for himself. He put it on, and about that time I showed up; the sight of that monster scared me half to death and I started running away. He forgot to remove the sack from his head as he chased after me to assure me everything was all right. We went around and around the house as he was trying to console me and I was scared out of my mind.
Finally he realized he was still wearing the “mask” and removed it. Instantly, everything was all right with me. I was so relieved. It was not a monster after all. It was my “Big Dad,” who loved me dearly. I can still feel that emotion of peace in knowing that what I thought was gong to hurt me was really trying to help me.
It was a lesson for life.
Later, as I would read from the Book of Romans, the message of that experience would come through loudly and clearly: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 NIV).
Joseph learned that lesson long, long ago as his brothers threw him into a pit, sold him as a slave in Egypt, where he was wrongfully accused of a crime and imprisoned. His Heavenly Father was wearing the mask of a monster, but when the mask was removed, Joseph became the most popular and powerful man in Egypt, other than the king himself. Romans 8:28 had not yet been written, but was already true.
Peter wrote to suffering Christians: “To the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation” (1 Peter 4:12-19).
Paul’s advice to us still applies: “Take your troubles to the Lord and He will give you peace within (paraphrase)” (Philippians 4:7-8).