May-June 2011
It is amazing to me how quickly time passes. My fourth of five children, Sarah, is set to graduate from high school next weekend. The home school graduation ceremony in Traverse City will include 25 graduates. In the graduation ceremony, the parents escort their graduate up to the platform, and then offer words of blessing on their child. Each set of parents is given three minutes to speak (3 minutes times 25graduates is more than an hour). There will be about 600 attendees, and there will be a celebration following the ceremony. I believe it will be a supremely joyful occasion.
Oh how I wish that time would slow down- but it won't. My little ones aren't little anymore. But this is a time for reflection about what really matters in life. We so often get sidetracked by “the tyranny of the urgent.” Time lines, deadlines, and daily tasks often divert us from doing the most important things in life. We know that having daily prayer as a family is important, but at the moment we seem just a little too busy. We know that our children are small only for a brief period of time, but we choose the business meeting instead of the soccer field. We know that we should spend time with our families, but we put it off for a future time when we think we will be less busy. I remember a bitter young man named Tom. Tom, the son of a pastor, was bitter because his father never had time for him. He told me that if any person from the church called, his dad dropped everything to rush to the problem. But that same pastor never had time for his own son. How sad! The pastor should be greatly responsive to the needs of the church- and his son.
Don't get me wrong. I believe that our children should see their parents working hard. They should see that we are devoted to careers and economic stability. But our careers and money are not ultimately more important than our families. Your family is your most important ministry.
As I continue to think about Sarah's graduation, I would like to mention some of the things that I believe are among the most important concerning our children:
1. Pray for our children continually, asking our Father to show favor, grace, and mercy.
2. Teach our children the ways of God through daily devotions as a family in the home.
3. Eat meals together every day. Conversations and relationships develop at the family table.
4. Be sure of your child's salvation. Have you led your child to Jesus in prayer? Is your child growing spiritually, as well as physically? Is there fruit in the child's life?
5. Be infatuated with your children, pursuing them constantly. Be interested in what they are doing. Give them your time. I remember a young man telling me that his father never missed even one of his high school football games. It spoke volumes.
6. Live all of life only for the glory of God, and encourage your children to do the same.
God bless, Pastor Gary
