It’s a Whitz!
Gleaned from his Facebook Page.
Preston asked for a walk for three straight days. Unfortunately, Hunter and I couldn’t deliver this treasured activity due to travel and other things going on - so I told him I’d take him Sunday night. The evening comes and we both set out on an excursion to the park.
Now, pre-marriage I walked outside zero percent of the time. I always thought (and sometimes still think) my time is better spent being productive in other ways. The Lord gave me a wife who loves walks and because I like her a whole lot, I began to like walks a whole lot. So, I laced up with her to talk about life and enjoy each other’s company. With Preston in the mix, walks are almost as regular as naps. Walks with Preston have been chances to show him the world inside our neighborhood, and opportunities for me to reflect on life.
Reflection time - we’re rolling along and I’m in my own world. I drift into thinking about what I haven’t achieved, what I don’t think I’m doing well, and how I feel like I often fall short of myself, my God, and others. With emotion welling up inside of me, Preston says “Whitz!”.
From the day we taught Preston what wheels were, he has pointed out every wheel he has seen with a hard finger point and a definitive “Whitz!” It doesn’t matter if it’s a steering wheel, a wheel in a book, wheels on a truck, or a tiny wheel on his firetruck PJs. He doesn’t care what it’s attached to, who’s touching it, where it’s going, or how big or small it is. It just matters that it’s a wheel - and wheels are awesome.
Almost as quickly as he said it, the dots were connected in my own life. There’s a lot going on, a lot to be responsible for and aware of. There’s a lot to do. In the middle of everything though, God is there. He’s in it all.
Preston is actively searching for any and every wheel, always. He can filter out all of the visual and audible noise because he is focused on ONE thing. He knows it when he sees it and he’ll let you know too.
It’s easy to be distracted by all the noise in life. But, when we focus on God intently and search for him everywhere, we will find him everywhere. It doesn’t matter where we are, where we’re going, or what we’re doing. He is there - and He is awesome.
What this doesn’t mean is that life’s difficulties disappear. They might even get tougher. But being laser-focused on Jesus causes worry to subside, peace to rise, and perspective to set in. Through that, we can address reality through the lens of Christ (Matthew 6:31-34).
Thank God for the Holy Spirit and Preston in that moment. In an instant, God opened my eyes and encouraged me through a simple, mispronunciation by a one year old.
“The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it.”
Mark 4:18-19
Spencer Poulter is the Grandson of the late Preacher/Missionary, Harold Preston,
and resides in Lexington, KY.
