Dear Bowen,
Happy birthday #6 my #2 grand young ‘un. I am very much looking forward to celebrating your birthday with you and am thrilled that when your mom asked you what you wanted to do for your birthday you said “go to Durham.” I am also excited about the NERF theme, the Chick-fil-A, and the big chocolate chip cookie that will all be a part of the extravaganza.
Speaking of the NERF theme, I bet you did not know that NERF stands for “Non-Expanding Recreational Foam”. It is actually a polyester resin that reacts with another compound in the presence of CO2, which then becomes a freakishly light polyurethane material. I did not make that sentence up – it came from the internet so we know that it is true.
The original NERF ball was first marketed back in 1970 (I was 12 years old) as a 4″ ball that you could “throw indoors, but can’t damage lamps or break windows, or hurt babies or old people.” Now that I am one of those old people I especially appreciate that. It was another 20 years before the introduction of the NERF gun. (I’m thinking that you will see my mad NERF gun skills in action this weekend). Did you know that there are about 450 MILLION NERF darts made each year. And I suspect that I will get hit with my fair share of them on Saturday.
Of course there is a lesson behind all this. Ephesians 6:16 says this: “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.”
Now I don’t expect to get hit with flaming darts this weekend but for sure I have been target practice for the evil one a time or twenty. And it is my faith in the Lord Jesus that has kept me from sure and certain defeat at his hands. So I want to encourage you to take up the shield of faith every day keeping in mind that every day is another day that the evil one is looking for an opportunity to wound your soul, steal your joy, and destroy your life.
So whenever you pick up a NERF gun to play a game with your friends keep in mind that there is a spiritual war being fought in the unseen world. Fight the good fight of faith my young grandson – I will be praying for you as you go into battle.
And never ever forget that you are very loved!
Pop Pop