Proverbs 4:26 ~ Watch the path of your feet

Jesus cured the nobleman's son (John 4:46-47).

Jesus healed a leper (Mark 1:40-45).

Jesus healed the centurion's servant (Matthew 8:5-13).

Jesus cured the paralytic (Matthew 9:1-8).

Jesus raised the ruler's daughter from the dead (Matthew 9:18-26).

Jesus cured a woman of an issue of blood (Luke 8:43-48).

Jesus opened the eyes of two blind men (Matthew 9:27-31).

Jesus opened the eyes of two blind men (Matthew 20:30-34).

Jesus fed at least five thousand people (Matthew 14:15-21).

Jesus fed at least four thousand people (Matthew 15:32-39).

Jesus healed a woman of Canaan (Matthew 15:22-28).

Jesus cured a deaf and mute man (Mark 7:31-37).

Jesus opened the eyes of a blind man (Mark 8:22-26).

Jesus cured a woman who had been afflicted eighteen years (Luke 13:10-17).

Jesus cured a man of dropsy (Luke 14:1-4).

Jesus cleansed ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19).

Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-46).


Not just the Centurion, not just the woman grasping the Hem of Jesus garment.

These were people who brought others, this happened again and again.

Proving, Prayer works. Proving Jesus, when sought, will answer.

More people saw Jesus so willing and they went to Jesus as well.

Maria: Dear Father, now I know why You sent me here. To help these children prepare for a new mother. And I pray this will become a happy family in Thy sight. God bless the captain. God bless Liesl and Friedrich. God bless Louisa, Brigitta, Marta and little Gretl. And I forgot the other boy. What's his name? Well, God bless what's-his-name. God bless the Reverend Mother and Sister Margaretta and everybody at the abbey. And now, dear God, about Liesl. Help her know that I'm her friend and help her tell me what she's been up to.

Liesl: Are you going to tell on me?

Maria: Help me to be understanding so I may guide her footsteps. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

Liesl: I was out walking and somebody locked the doors early. I didn't want to wake everybody, so when I saw your window open. You're not going to tell Father, are you?

Maria: How in the world did you climb up here?

Liesl: It's how we always got in to play tricks on the governess. Louisa can make it with a whole jar of spiders in her hand.

Maria: Spiders? Liesl, were you out walking all by yourself? If we wash that dress tonight, nobody would notice it tomorrow. You could put this on. Take your dress and put it to soak in the bathtub. 
Come back here and sit on the bed, and we'll have a talk.

Liesl: I told you today I didn't need a governess. Well, maybe I do.




Hall and Oates have been singing about needing "What is right for me, yeah. I need a drink and a quick decision.Now it's up to me, ooooh what will be' For some time. And most adults get this.

You would think Maria would still be receiving spiders and the ill will of her charges. So many times in life, we are the recipients of advice and direction. And sometimes for years and years the same advice is given and ruefully and humorously agreed this is the road to take. And planned. What turns the key?

Suddenly you see a report, an email, a wisdom, a loved one's advice. Or in the case of Liesl, deep waters rush in and even war. And the day arrives, unasked and a decision is made. God moves.

What turns the action or the work? Actually, when all the advice adds up to a renewed vigor and heart dwelling of the Word of the Lord.

Liesl is a minor character in this classic movie, and yet no one has forgotten Liesl ~ we have all been Liesl. I knew parents, as my sons grew up, with a dignified father determined his children would never be away from any movie or idea even as small children. And the challenge to never create a time of discovering deep water - is mistaken. We all will come to times where we must decide from the pulls and pushed of life - who we are - what we answer to - our soul development.

In fiction, Liesl decides as she sees Rolf fall into the Hitler Youth. She has been gifted to see the Seed Parable unfold in front of her. A passage of growing up.


Parents, like Father God, are wise to protect their children to have these moments. And even more wise to have all the sincere conversations they can have. Genuine.



Liesl is open - for kindness, mercy. This is actually a conversation God would sit and provide us with. Decisions are made from loyalty, love, integrity, honor. This is the way Liesl's new parent is going to respond. This is how Father God feels towards us. This is the best of news. The Good News God bends far down to show us His immeasurable Love, Grace and Salvation.

Liesl was really Agatha.  Who was so impressed with her new parent, she wrote a book about her parents at age 91. Worked with the Catholic Church in kindergartens and lived to be 97 years old. The real Maria held her family together 11 years before Nazi invasion. Maria felt the movie portrayal wouldn't have kept the family together. Yet Maria felt her personality was held forth. Their immigration to America was announced and the path planned.

How did Maria arrive at her decision to marry Georg. The best of all reasons. Love. The Path to follow. Jesus, it is written, was followed with awe and wonder. And the disciple who would put his own life at risk fully understood - God is Love. Maria married and said her husband, she loved him more than I have ever loved before or after.


The path of our feet should travel in the Word of our Father God, His Banner over us is Love. Asking each day to meet God's timing with Joy. Expectation.





The Path opened with Love. In? Chapter 16, of course, almost 17!

1 Corinthians 16

13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love.



Abba, Amen in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †