Today you turn 11. This year began a new chapter in our lives as I left teaching public school and I returned to ministry. This past year has been difficult for you and I. While we finally left a season of life that I haven't been there for you like I wanted. Painful ministry experiences, school, COVID, teaching, etc. took me away. Some of it could have been done differently, much of it was beyond our control. As a result, we've butted heads a lot in recent months. Things came to a head, and it was time to talk. As we talked at length a couple weeks ago on the trampoline, I had to share with you that I don't like you very much right now.
You have experienced much disappointment and developed some unreasonable expectations of me. Without the regular guiding presence, you have established some poor habits and attitudes. As a result, I have been more critical and frustrated with you, and I am sure, you haven't liked me much either. There's been a lot of discipline lately. But as I told you that evening, that doesn't change the fact that I will never stop loving you. But "love" is different from "like." Enjoying the presence (liking) of someone we love will be affected by circumstances and we withdraw from them, but when you love someone, you are committed to stick it out through the hard times.
BUT... It hasn't been all bad! There have been fishing trips, water park getaways with just you and I, soccer games, playing catch in the backyard, tickles, wrestles and snuggles on the couch watching movies. Even better, after years of teaching and guiding toward Christ, you trusted Christ to be your Savior and I got to baptize you this year. Now the discipleship begins! With it will come more training aka discipline. Discipline is hard sometimes and it is often unpleasant. Those times you may not like me, and I may not like you. Discipline chips away at the parts of our character to shape us into the image of Christ.
"9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." - Heb. 12:9–11.
I love you and I am SO PROUD OF YOU! Happy Birthday!
