Welcome The Children
36Then He put a little child among them. Taking the child in His arms, He said to them, 37“Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.” (Mark 9:36-37)
Children have a special place in my heart. And as you read above, they have a very special place in the heart of Jesus Christ. My first child led me to a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ. God blessed my amazing wife and I with two more gifts that I get the privilege of being their father. I wrote privilege because being a parent is an absolute special task bestowed on us as we welcome a new life into the world. As parents, we shape and mold a person who could change the world for the better or stray far from knowing their Creator and Savior and grow to be a detriment to society. Being a parent is a full-time job that we somehow must balance between our other full-time occupations. It is a tireless job, and I know some say it is also a thankless job, because our children do not realize the sacrifices we make as parents until they have children of their own. However, I get my reward for this calling every time I get a hug that holds on a little longer than expected, a snuggle that forces me away from distractions on my phone, or a late-night conversation about life and learning. I thank God every night and morning for watching over my children and keeping them safe when I am away from them.
I decided to write this post as I read through Chapter 9 in the Book of Mark. When I read those Holy Words in red that I posted above, I felt compelled to remind you, dear readers, of how precious children are; and how important our role is in protecting them, providing safe space for them to grow and learn, and leading them to know an accurate account of Jesus Christ and His teachings. Reading that specific chapter as I continue to inch through the second Gospel, and then my son coming down stairs and immediately wrapping me in a tight hug to say ‘good morning’ humbled me today and reminded me of the most crucial assignment I have as an adult: just being their dad.
Last weekend we were doing some shopping at Wal-Mart, a place that for years I avoided every chance I got. But as we were walking through the children’s clothes, I was highly impressed by the t-shirt offerings they had, especially that they offer fun designs at an affordable price. We were in Wal-Mart, shopping for last minute gifts for a tenth birthday celebration. I found a “Bluey” adult shirt that says, “In my Bandit era” and features Bluey and Bingo climbing on their dad, Bandit. I have written on this site my adoration for the Bluey series and how Bandit and Chilli are amazing examples of how-to parent, consistently putting everything aside to be present for their daughters. (On another note, while shopping, I also randomly picked up a bag of Fire Dept. Coffee’s ‘Shellback’ Espresso and over the week have fallen in love with that coffee company).
After a summer of missed opportunities, as my work schedule kept me away from my children more than any summer before, now that they are all back at school, I am savoring every weekend with them. As I drove home from work yesterday, I took my normal route through the historic area, where I essentially drive from the eastside of the historic district to the west end, where Taylor Street dumps into the I-16 on-ramp. I love taking Taylor St. because it provides a straight shot to I-16 that cuts across the north side of four historic Savannah squares. This allows me to end my day with a reminder of one reason Savannah is such an iconic city, a unique mix of God’s beauty against humanity’s architectural achievements. Sweeping southern live oak trees stretch their mighty branches across modern streets while nearly two-hundred-year-old homes stand proudly into the golden rays of a setting sun. Yesterday, that sunlight was splashing on this beautiful tapestry with a bright, warm aura that left me in awe. As I cruised through this short stretch (it is less than a mile from the eastside to the westside of the Historic District), I thought of how special Savannah is and how tragic it is that it continues to be plagued by violent crime, poverty, and homelessness. While the city is a true gem of southern history (the city consistently is rated in the top three of America’s best) as the last colony established and the buffer between England’s territory and Spain’s, when the initial allure of history wears off and the true colors of the city begin to shine through, residents quickly grow tired of the endless threat of violence that lurks around many dark corners. Crime that could easily be avoided, if parents took the personal responsibility of raising children who know and respect God, our Father; teaching them to walk the narrow path paved by the Son, Jesus Christ; and compelling them to be productive, contributing members of society.
I am far from truly being able to say the job I did as a father fulfilled this mission as our oldest child has just entered the 10th grade and our only boy is sixth years behind her in the fourth. Our family is far from perfect, and we deal with many of the issues that plague most modern families, but we lean heavily on God’s guidance, grace, and mercy. My wife and I are committed to raising our children to be better than us and focus on building a better world than the one that has been dumped upon them.
It is really a shame that America has abandoned that mindset. We have regressed in too many ways to list. Jesus commanded us to welcome the little children, and we should do so, not just to Jesus, but to a world that is better than we found it. We have a lot of work to do in that last area. We continue to destroy God’s natural beauty, and a new battle is currently underway over the 25-year-old ‘Roadless Rule’, that put in place Federal protection for millions of God’s creation. There are strong arguments on both sides, where the pro-repeal side states this will only remove old and fallen trees to allow for fresh regrowth, however, it does not take much to realize the greed that infests every industry in mankind. If given access to more federal land, I know that logging companies would decimate every square inch, destroying trees that have grown for thousands of years. The forests welcome the children and thousands of species of creatures, big and small. We need to do our part to ensure their preservation, not just for this generation, but for every generation that is to come. Click here to add your voice to oppose the repeal of the Roadless Rule and preserve this sacred ground for those who Jesus commanded us to welcome the most.
Common Sense Reborn 