A couple of weeks ago when I was walking the granddaughters home after a visit,  the oldest one, Avery who is 4 years old stopped and surveyed all the leftover grass and dirt from my recent afternoon of mowing, edging and trimming.  I had simply run over it with the mower hoping to blow most of it away and was unsuccessful.  As she took in the scene she shook her head and said, “You need a leaf blower Pawpaw.  My daddy has one and he cleans up all that stuff real good.”  I sheepishly replied that Pawpaw would take care of it later that weekend.  Luckily for me a pretty good rain came that night and did the job for me.  Rain is always a blessing, isn’t it?

After all of the comments I have had from Avery recently on the yard, bird feeders and bird baths it seems that I have gained an accountability partner.  Accountability partners are good to have in all aspects of life, especially spiritually.  As brothers and sisters in Christ we are to help one another in our spiritual walk. We are to encourage and edify one another as we live out our faith.  When we notice that one of our brothers or sisters is struggling or falling short, we are expected to intervene.  God’s word tells us how to handle the situation.  Paul said in Galatians 6:1 “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”

Paul said it well.  It is not enough to just pray for the wayward brother, we are to go to them in love and gently try to restore them.  Additional instructions can also be found in Matthew 18 on how to handle these situations.  The bottom line is we all need to have accountability partners and we are all expected to be accountability partners.  I mowed and edged today and when I was done I used the shop vac like a leaf blower so that I could clean up the sidewalks.   I blew the debris into a couple of little piles and swept it up….well, most of it.  If you drive by the house you will see that I just blew some of it into the street.   Please don’t tell Avery…and please pray for me and I will pray for you.  Until next time, stay strong in the faith.