A favor I would like to ask.

For the past sixteen months, God hasn’t let me move too far away
from the idea and truth that he is my father.  I am constantly
surprised by how good of a father he is, and the idea of what it means
to be a father is always ripe and percolating in my brain.

 

The fact that God gives his children to earthly parents and trusts
them to demonstrate his character in really tangible ways really blows
my mind (providing for them, loving them, disciplining them, and
reminding them that they are wanted and needed here on earth – not
because anything they’ve done, but because of who they are and who wove
them together)…

There are plenty of thoughts in my head on this topic. I could
write a strange book about it.  Who knows maybe I will.  But for now I
am tired of writing, and I am not a father (or a mother).  So I want to
pass the pen to you.

The Assignment

What I’m asking is this:  If you are a parent – take some time and
think of ways God has taught you about himself through the experience
of parenting – fathering or mothering.

 

Whether it was through preparing yourself for the due date, the
first time you saw their little face, the sleepless nights of the early
years, the temper you couldn’t (or still can’t) keep down, the fear of
failure, the time they spouted infinite wisdom from five year old lips,
the beautiful moments where you just couldn’t contain your love, the
days you had to ask for forgiveness for being wrong, the times you
wanted to fix everything but couldn’t, the time they grew up while you
were at the grocery store…. What do I know?  I’m just trying to jog
your brain.

 

Don’t rush it, but sit down with a pen and paper and spend some
time reflecting on it.  You can stop there if you want, but I would
love it if you e-mailed me some of those stories and lessons.  It would
be good for my heart right now.

I don’t care how bad of a writer you think you are.  I don’t care
how boring of a story you think it is.  I’m more interested in learning
from you than giving you a Pulitzer Prize, so rest easy and be honest.

Even if you don’t pass it my way, I think its still a worthy
assignment – and you should consider passing your kids a copy or having
the conversation with them.  They’d love to hear all about the things
they’ve taught you and the ways God has used them to ‘convert’ you, as
Jesus would say (Matthew 18.1-6).

 

Whatever age they might be creeping towards, I think its a
beautiful thing for a kid to know that God is using them to teach and
mold their parents.  It tells them that they’re not a burden.  It makes
them feel valuable and reminds them they have a purpose.  It teaches
them that God is using them now – not waiting until they are 18 or
eligible to be a deacon.  And these are all things that God wants his
kids to know.

 

I think it is also a good exercise in humility for a parent.  A
good reminder that God is using the weak to lead the strong, the
foolish to shame the wise, and that unless we are striving to become
like children we just don’t get it – and the kingdom of God might be
further than we think.

I am twenty-three and all of my words come from observations and
small tastes rather then experience. So forgive me if any of these
words or ideas seem pretentious or shallow to the seasoned bunch of you.

 

But really, you have no idea how much I am looking forward to your e-mails.

 

grace and peace,