Weekly Thought – March 26, 2024
Fred admitted to his uncomfortable role as father to young ones. However, as the three grew they all developed relationships with him which endured. In his now-famous “last words” delivered at his own memorial service he made the startling statement: “I want to leave my children loving and respecting me, not needing me.” He and Mary Alice gave them lessons which prepared them for their absence and for their everlasting future together.
The Permanent Parent
Our heavenly father is permanent. He brings us into a forever relationship. God creates a bond which cannot be broken because it is fixed. Scripture says “no one can take them out of my hand.” He is a forever parent, never contingent or conditional.
In 1993 we celebrated our 56th anniversary and stopped in Austin to have lunch with a life-long pastoral friend. He told us of a woman who had been in counseling for over 20 years. She was still struggling with the failure to ever please her father. She was a good student who brought home high marks only to hear “Don’t they give any A+ grades down there?” She was crushed. Our relationship with God is not like that one. Our acceptance is based strictly on His love.
One of my favorite passages of Scripture is expressed by the Apostle Paul: “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” When our daughter Brenda went to college she lettered that verse on a card and added “nor Denison University” recognizing that no place could be strong enough to shake the permanent nature of God’s hold.
Maturity brings us into this permanent relationship with God the father. There is an intimacy in the perfect relationship. But I have found that intimacy cannot be planned. It cannot be a task or a number one priority. Intimate conversation has to come about naturally. All we can do is give it the opportunity, the honesty, and openness to appreciate it when it does come. Confidence in the permanence of the relationship whether spiritual or human creates a platform from which intimacy can grow. When we are secure in the enduring quality we have the freedom to open up. Prayer grows as we know Him – and understand that we are known.
On a human basis, I find the perfect human relationship is when we gain mutual respect for each other. We become each other’s teacher and mentor. I now recognize my children are able to teach me just as much as I am able to teach them… and sometimes more. This lesson is taught through shared lives, trusting experiences, and lifelong work. The children occasionally thank me for the lessons I have learned in parenting. They comment that I have done a fair job of “reparenting.” As God parents me and I understand His patterns and principles I can apply them in the family. Thankfully He does a more consistent job than I do because I always have a permanent and perfect model to follow.
This week carefully ponder: 1) How deeply do I desire to know God as a father? 2) What Biblical principles can I apply to my family life? 3) When do I most enjoy parenting?
Words of Wisdom: “Our heavenly father is a permanent parent.”
Wisdom from the Word: “See what sort of love the Father has given to us: that we should be called God’s children – and indeed we are!” (1 John 3:1 NET Bible)