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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
"Your Child Will Bless You"
June 30, 2010
I sat there with tears in my eyes as my daughter Sarah walked out on
stage at the Miss Connecticut Pageant. She was absolutely beautiful. I could
hardly believe I was watching my little girl as she floated across the stage in
her evening gown. I suddenly saw her as the intelligent, sophisticated young
woman that she had become. She was college graduate with dreams and
aspirations. She had poise and charm and a wit that was disarming. Without
me knowing it, she had become an adult.
That happens to our children doesn’t it? One day they are playing make
believe with dolls or playing video games in the family room and the next
day they have careers and families and are living out their dreams. The toys
are in the attic and they are busy making plans with their friends. They no
longer need us because they are looking to the future and life holds for them.
I thought of this when I watched Toy Story 3 last week. Yes, I went to
see it. I walked in right behind a mom and three kids and pretended I was
with them so no one would know I was going to see it by myself. I laughed
and cried all the way through the movie. I identified with Buzz, Woody and
the gang. Andy was preparing to leave them. He was grown up now and
heading off to college. He was no longer that little boy who needed them.
As parents we want our children to grow up and be confident, capable and
self sufficient. We prepare them to be successful in life. We teach them to
make good choices that will follow them as they become adults. The truth
is that God does the same thing. He created us in his image. He gave us
tremendous freedom. He teaches us through his Word how to live life
triumphantly. Then he lets us go.
I don’t know how God does it. I want to wrap my arms around my girls
and hold them forever. I want to keep them close so that I can keep them
safe. I don’t want them to experience the dark side of life, the
disappointments, the betrayals, the injustices that come to all of us. I want
them only to know the good life. Unfortunately even if I’m at their side,
stuff happens. So maybe the best thing to do as parents is to follow God’s
lead.
God tells us in the book of Proverbs, “Train a child in the way he should
go and when he is old he will not stray from it.” God tells us how to live a
good life in the scriptures and then he gives us the freedom to do so. He
gives us the freedom to make choices, good and bad. Along with the
freedom he also gives us a promise. He will always be there when we need
him. He will be there to celebrate our victories. He will be there to help us
up when we fall.
I think that is parenting at its best. So enjoy your children when they are
young. Nurture and teach them what is right and good. Those lessons will
one day come back to bless you. My tears last Saturday night as I beheld
that beautiful young woman on stage are proof of that.
God Bless. See you in church. Cal
June 30, 2010
I sat there with tears in my eyes as my daughter Sarah walked out on
stage at the Miss Connecticut Pageant. She was absolutely beautiful. I could
hardly believe I was watching my little girl as she floated across the stage in
her evening gown. I suddenly saw her as the intelligent, sophisticated young
woman that she had become. She was college graduate with dreams and
aspirations. She had poise and charm and a wit that was disarming. Without
me knowing it, she had become an adult.
That happens to our children doesn’t it? One day they are playing make
believe with dolls or playing video games in the family room and the next
day they have careers and families and are living out their dreams. The toys
are in the attic and they are busy making plans with their friends. They no
longer need us because they are looking to the future and life holds for them.
I thought of this when I watched Toy Story 3 last week. Yes, I went to
see it. I walked in right behind a mom and three kids and pretended I was
with them so no one would know I was going to see it by myself. I laughed
and cried all the way through the movie. I identified with Buzz, Woody and
the gang. Andy was preparing to leave them. He was grown up now and
heading off to college. He was no longer that little boy who needed them.
As parents we want our children to grow up and be confident, capable and
self sufficient. We prepare them to be successful in life. We teach them to
make good choices that will follow them as they become adults. The truth
is that God does the same thing. He created us in his image. He gave us
tremendous freedom. He teaches us through his Word how to live life
triumphantly. Then he lets us go.
I don’t know how God does it. I want to wrap my arms around my girls
and hold them forever. I want to keep them close so that I can keep them
safe. I don’t want them to experience the dark side of life, the
disappointments, the betrayals, the injustices that come to all of us. I want
them only to know the good life. Unfortunately even if I’m at their side,
stuff happens. So maybe the best thing to do as parents is to follow God’s
lead.
God tells us in the book of Proverbs, “Train a child in the way he should
go and when he is old he will not stray from it.” God tells us how to live a
good life in the scriptures and then he gives us the freedom to do so. He
gives us the freedom to make choices, good and bad. Along with the
freedom he also gives us a promise. He will always be there when we need
him. He will be there to celebrate our victories. He will be there to help us
up when we fall.
I think that is parenting at its best. So enjoy your children when they are
young. Nurture and teach them what is right and good. Those lessons will
one day come back to bless you. My tears last Saturday night as I beheld
that beautiful young woman on stage are proof of that.
God Bless. See you in church. Cal
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
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