Thu
May 20
2010
Bishop Dave deFreese
Nebraska Synod, ELCA
“The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him.” (Luke 2:40)
A 17-year-old boy lay in a hospital bed dying because of leukemia. His father was there at the bedside. Through the years, he had given that boy “everything” … a home, comforts, education, a variety of experience, and luxuries … but in that sober hour, his son needed something more.
The young man looked up from his bed and stated: “Dad, you have been very good to me. You have given me everything I’ve ever asked for. But … I think I’m dying and you never spoke to me about God, and … Dad … I’m afraid.”
Parenting is quite a responsibility! Parents today are raising children in a very confusing, complex, and contentious time. Many parents feel society’s pressures to have their children involved in as many learning and growing experiences as possible. Sometimes they feel like chauffeurs between piano lessons and dance lessons, soccer practice and softball, taekwondo and social events. They truly want what is best for their children. It is a heavy responsibility to be a parent.
But … we will have missed the mark entirely … if we only prepare our young ones for “how” to live, without letting them know “why” to live!
We kid ourselves when we celebrate our freedoms without realizing that it is our obligations that give our lives their meaning. Children are the anchors that hold us to life. And all of us are called to love each other into all God made and meant us to be. We long to lay a foundation that is solid so that they might live in this world and step boldly into the next world.
Our lives are fleeting … in regard to eternity .We want to live worthwhile lives … filled with joy and hope … with purpose and meaning. Anything that gets between our connection to the very Source of our living is dangerous. For unless we know why we are here, the “how’s” just do not matter.
It seems that everyone wants God’s peace and comfort and love … and yet too often we are not willing to discipline ourselves to lay the foundation of knowing the power of God’s presence in our lives. That means routinely and regularly recognizing God in our homes and in worship. Children recognize sincere and honest faith … they learn from parents who strive to walk with their Christ in every day living. And they are strengthened to do the same!
In a culture that forever feeds self-centeredness … “What’s in it for me?” … Christ-centered parents teach of service and of giving away life. Someone very wise stated: “Our business in life is less making something of ourselves than finding something worth doing and losing ourselves in it.” We are followers of Jesus who pointed to a different way … a better way.
A mountaineer from the hills was arrested for a misdemeanor. A social worker was assigned to the case by the court. The social worker discovered that the fellow was illiterate. He asked him, “Why didn’t your parents teach you to read and write?” The fellow answered with home-spun wisdom: “Ma’am, ya can’t give what ya haven’t got … any more than ya can go back to where ya never been.”
As we strive to be parents in this world … remember to invest in eternity! God has gifted us with live, to be share into every tomorrow!
