This time about four years ago, I was pastoring in a small
church in the mission field of Vermont.
We had been preparing to welcome our 3rd child into our
family and into the world. As is the
custom, we had received a series of gifts and cards congratulating us on our
new addition. One such card came from a
friend and local pastor. The outside of
the card in all of its piety declared, “Children are a blessing from the Lord…”
(cf. Psalm 127:3)
How appropriate an exhortation from a brother in Christ! Only, when I opened that card the inside
caption continued “…remember that at 3am!”
Since Tim would be our third, I knew full well what that meant… or at
least I thought I did!
As most of you know, (if not, you can read in the previous
posts of this now annual blog) shortly after receiving that card, we made a
late night trip to the hospital that would begin one of the most challenging
weeks of my life.
Today, Timothy is four, happy and healthy. Because he is a boy, he is ever so different
from his older sisters. He is
head-strong, physical and active. As
such, he has tested our patience exponentially more and his character is much
more resistant to guidance. In those
moments, I forget the years before when we almost lost him and his momma. We forget that he is still a blessing from
the Lord. Instead, I long for the
blessing of obedience and compliance and a more frequent lower volume. I see that God has wired him for leadership,
but first he must learn to follow and frankly he doesn’t want to follow. He wants to be in charge.
Timothy, my prayers for you this year is that you would have a daddy
that will be constantly reminded that in the midst of the of the frustrating battle
of wills, I will remember that God blessed us with you, and that I
will be a blessing to you. Thank you
Father for yet another year with my son.
"give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." - 1 Thes. 5:18 (ESV)
