Anyone who knows me well has probably heard me say that if you can raise your children to adulthood and they love Jesus and love their parents, you can die happy.
I can die happy!
When I think about what it means to be a father I am intimidated by the reality that in partnership with my wife, we were given the God-ordained responsibility to make sure that our children grew up to adulthood loving God and loving their parents. Who in their right mind would sign on to that task!!
So on this Saturday before Father's Day, I've been thinking about that. Here are some of my thoughts.
My children do love God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit - to be a bit Trinitarian! They think about faith in ways that make me proud, even though neither of them has a degree in biblical studies or theology. They get the big picture of Scripture in ways that impress me and constantly ask questions about theology that reminds me of what my old friend Roy McKinney use to say Shakespeare said, "Consistency, thou art a jewel."
They love their parents. I never get the impression that they are embarrassed to be seen in the company of Mom and Dad. I don't remember asking one of them to help me out on something - technology for example - and they turned me down. They will harass me, but they still help me! We have figured out patterns of life - recognizing they are adults and aren't dependent on us - that enable us to help one another out. I am headed in a few minutes to mow Sarah's lawn. Vicki is always willing to "spend the night with Miller" if Sarah needs to be out of town. Sarah, for the "I've forgotten how many times," just created a great spiritual formation logo for 2017-18. Bethany spent an hour night before last helping me figure out a Point Learning grade book that needed to be ready on Friday. We often baby sit our "grand dogs" that belong to her."
None of that "has to happen." But all of that an more regularly happens. And, by the way, the first Father's Day card I got was from my son-in-law Chad, who has always been willing to engage in the life of the family he married into.
When I scan social media sites like Facebook, I almost always say a prayer of thanksgiving that my children don't post fake news, nonsense opinions, or pictures of themselves that embarrass me! If you think about it, that in itself is a pretty good Father's Day gift!
Both of our children are comfortable saying "Dad, that doesn't match" or "Mom, that looks too 1980s." And both Vicki and I are willing to listen!
So I'm not trying to say we have a perfect family. We don't. However, I am willing to say on this Father's Day the greatest gift I know - short of Jesus and my wife - is that together Vicki and I have raised two pretty good kids. They love God and they love Mom and Dad.
I can die happy! But I can also continue to live happy so I'm not rushing the dying thing!
