Ask Him What He’s Thinkin’ About By: Guest Blogger Stephanie Halvorsen
It’s my favorite question to ask anyone that I care about. “What are you thinkin’ about?” I have probably asked it a million and a half times. To best friends, boyfriends, parents, siblings, acquaintances and really anyone who gives me a chance to ask it. I love this question. It gives me a momentary glimpse into the heart and mind of a fellow human being.
I have had so many different kinds of responses, some deep and intimate, others amusing, some random or out of the ordinary. Some have been important while others were completely trivial. It is the perfect question. It is absolutely my favorite way to get to know someone. To sit in a quiet place together, just long enough for our thoughts to wander, and then I pop it on them. Their answer tells me about them. Their answer shows me what is important enough to occupy their thoughts at that moment in time. It tells me what is going on in their life. It brings us closer together. It is a moment of fun, a moment to celebrate the friendship or the intimacy shared between us.
I was having a moment like this with my Jesus the other day. The two of us were just sitting there together. Sharing a quiet moment, a moment that was just long enough for our thoughts to wander, then I asked my Savior to tell me. I asked Him to let me in close and to share the amazing thoughts that He was having. I wanted to capture that momentary glimpse into His heart and mind. I wanted to know what he was feeling. I asked Him to show me His heart.
His answer amazed me. It changed me. I heard no auditory voice; no words were spoken between us after I had asked my question. No words were needed. He surrounded me with love as only He can. He told me how much He loved me without a single spoken word. He told me I was priceless, a daughter of the King. He told me that His was the only opinion that mattered, that His love was greater than any love I would find in this world. He commissioned me to live with the honor and integrity of a Christian woman. He asked me to surrender my heart to Him. He told me that life is hard, that it’s complicated. He told me that sometimes I would fail, that I would make mistakes. He told me that sometimes I would come up short. Then He promised me that He would pick me up afterwards. He promised me that He would brush off my knees, wipe away my tears and hold my hand the rest of the way. I found myself sitting in the perfect silence of His answer with tears streaming down my face, completely speechless. No one has ever answered my favorite question like He did.
The next time that you and He are sharing a quiet moment together, you know, one of those quiet moments that last just long enough for your thoughts to wander, please ask Him to tell you what he is thinking about. I promise you, His answer will change your everything.
The Blessing
Me (Buffy) and Ronnie III
We had a wedding in our family on May 24. Our oldest son, Ron Halvorsen III, got married. In the rush of family and guests, planning and preparation my mother heart felt overwhelmed with feelings, love and hope. The prayers I had prayed for this son were being answered in such a beautiful way. His father and I wanted to bless our children at their wedding. Since his dad performed the ceremony, it was my honor to bless their union. I thought I’d share that blessing with you.
Ronnie & Josie: You are both prayed-for children. Ronnie, your dad and I prayed for you before you were born. When I got pregnant we started praying for the friends you would have growing up and for the person you would marry. God has answered both of those prayers.
When you were born, Ronnie, you helped me understand God’s love better than I had ever understood it before. I understood for the first time the love of a parent for a child. Ronnie, you are so special. Your laugh is contagious. Your music, your sense of humor, your kind heart — God has given you so many gifts. Your deep longing is for love. You need to find that in God, allow Him to fill you and it will spill over onto Josie. You are a deep person. You will continue to find unlimited, infinite depth in your relationship with God. Keep that strong, continue to pursue His love and depth and you will be a blessing to Josie.
Josie, you are precious. We have grown to love you so much this last year. We couldn’t have picked anyone better suited for Ronnie than you are. Your happy spirit, your optimism, and your determination are all gifts that compliment him. You love peace and keeping people happy. Remember that true peace comes from trusting God with every detail of your life. Thank you for being who you are. Thank you for loving Ronnie.
Together, from today on, you will form a new home that is uniquely yours. As we visit that home in the future, we may see some carryover from our home, or from Josie’s childhood home, but overwhelmingly it will be your home, blessed with love and peace from God, and filled with your unique gifts and style. Today we want to be the first in a long line of blessings for your new home. We want you to know that we expect and anticipate the perfection of your new home. We don’t expect it to be an exact replica of our own. We know that when God creates, he creates beauty, perfection and love. We anxiously await the formation of your new family – your togetherness.
Today we erect a hedge around your relationship protected by God’s love. A hedge that will be a defense against the world and anything that would destroy your love for each other. We want to erect the cross between you and any generational evil. We ask that God will minister grace and mercy protecting you from the effects of your ancestor’s sins. We want to place your relationship under the care of heaven and Jesus’ blood. We know that from your home love and peace will flow to bless the world. We loved you for the individuals you have grown to be. From today on, we love you for the couple you are becoming.
We have some symbolic gifts for you today. First is a book. Books are very important to both of you. This book is empty now, but the title on the spine is Moments In Life. Tonight you are starting the memories together that will fill this book. The choices you make each day, the little ones, will determine what fills this book. Your response to what life gives you will in a large measure determine the outcome of your story. We pray you will fill it with love, fun, hard work, family and God.
We also have an anchor. Ronnie, a river runs through your life. Chrystal River has been the one constant in your life. And boats, the mutt boat especially, are part of who you are. This anchor is a metaphor for a lot of your life. If you think back to stories of anchors in our family there are a few. Anchors lost and found. But as you have learned they have to be tied on to the boat. Your anchor in life is God. Be sure you are tied to Him.
So, today as your parents we bless this union and release you to live your life together with God.
*****
After the wedding I remembered a prayer I wrote when Ronnie was about three months old, I thought I’d share that will you too.
To the Author of Our Lives
Thank you for the most beautiful gift of our baby son.
He is so perfect.
My heart aches with love for him.
I hold him, hugging his warm soft body close.
His life is like a book, but most of the pages are still blank.
Right now he is just a short story.
It is full of giggles, hugs and fun, baths and naps.
Jesus, please finish the book.
Fill it with right choices,
Good friends, fun trips, camping and family.
Please put a lot of his mom and dad in it.
May the whole story reflect You.
Splash Your love over the pages.
Sprinkle it with Your Spirit.
And dip it in Calvary’s blood.
As the world turns the pages of his life,
May the free gift of Your salvation spill out.
May he be a book of epic proportions.
Two weeks ago a new section of the book of Ronnie’s life was started. Josie has joined the plot. We are so thankful for what God is doing in their lives.
Three generations of Ron Halvorsen Ronnie & Josie Halvorsen
