We have biological families and eternal families. Where I'm so thankful and blessed that Ella and Cale are my children and by blood and DNA part of my family, I'm much more concerned that they will be part of my eternal family. And for that to happen they need a great story. One greater than just simply living at home and being my kids. The greatest story ever told is that of Jesus. There is nothing better. It sounds like an opinion, but I assure you it's not. If as a parent I don't make sure to show Jesus' story in a magnificent way in their lives they will go looking for a better one of their own. And they'll fail. They could live a life that's fine and simply normal. One that at the end is completely explainable. Or they can live one with the supernatural power of God. One that is miraculous, the one that He intends for them and at the end go, "Wow! Just wow." I want them to live radically for Him doing what He called them to do. I don't want them to live a life of fulfilling selfish desires and following their fleshly passions. I want them to see the need around them. To have their hearts break for what breaks His and love like He does. To grieve their sin and the sin of those around them and not embrace, accept or excuse it. To not feel entitled to happiness, but to be moved to walk in obedience. Romans 2:6-8, "He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury."
I heard a fabulous speaker at a conference one time. She said, "I would rather my daughter live in the darkest, scariest part of Africa in God's will than right next door to me out of it." And she's exactly right. The only place more scary than any geography, circumstance or situation is being outside of Gods will. That's no where I want my children to ever be. I would love my kids to be with me always. I'd love them to get married and have babies and live next door. I'd love for Cale to love me "the best" all his life and to always be his number one girl. But, that's not what The Lord requires of Him and it's not what He requires of me. It'd be great for them to be with me always, but forever is so much more attractive. I don't want to think about letting go, but it's the most important thing I'll do as a parent. It would be detrimental for me to hold onto something so tightly that belongs to God. And that's the thing we often fail to overlook is that they're not "our" kids, they're His. See, God knew the gifts, talents and passions my children would have before I even knew they existed. Before I ever saw one of their sweet faces He had a plan for their entire life. And as much as I'd like to, I don't know them a tiny smidgen compared to how He does. If you offered me a million dollars I couldn't guess the number of hairs on their head, but The Lord knows every one. I don't want to ever hinder who their Father is making them to be. One of my biggest fears is that Ella or Cale would ever look at me and say that they did something or didn't do something because it's what they thought "I wanted." And here's why; Philippians 1:6 says, "I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." I didn't begin that good work, Christ did. Christ knows the plans He has for Ella, He knows the plans He has for Cale. I don't. But I do know three things: 1. His plans are far greater than anything I could conjure up or imagine 2. It's not my job to know those plans, but to point them to Him with every breath I take and 3. If they follow Him wholeheartedly, living abandoned to obedience, which is the standard Christ set, they will never need to look for anything better. They'll never be satisfied with anything less.
When we pray Gods word, we pray His will. So, I'm praying Philippians 1:6 over my children. I pray His completed work in their lives. I pray they know and can discern His voice and that nothing will rule their hearts other than their love for Him. I'd be doing them a huge injustice, an eternal injustice, if I ever led them to believe anything in or of this world could satisfy them, so, my prayer for me is that I don't...and that when the time comes I'll have the strength to let go.
But, for now...Cale's just 4 and I am the most important girl in his life. And Ella's just 7 and she likes to be with me. They like me so much I can't shower or go to the bathroom by myself. Matt and I go to sleep listening to them laugh and talk and giggle and "whisper." Right now...this is our season and we will worry about the rest of it later...though the training starts now.
