Parenting for a Purpose

 One of the benefits of being a minister in the same town for over twenty years is seeing generations grow up and begin their own homes. We have celebrated weddings, children being born and then these children growing to love Jesus as well.


My wife and I attended a wonderful wedding on Memorial Day weekend for one of the families we have known for twenty years. The ceremony was spiritual and unique at the same time. The couple exchanged vows on an outside terrace of a hotel in the French Quarter. One of the most unusual sights was hotel guests pressing their faces to the windows to watch the wedding. 


Everyone loves a wedding!


The real celebration was at the reception from 7-10 p.m. Lively conversation between friends and families, great food and drink, live music and dancing! Little wonder Jesus did His first miracle at a wedding. When He turned water into wine it was taking something plain, infusing it with His life to make it something that was tasty, fragrant and intoxicating. He did the same thing when He joined these two young people into one.


As I reflected on the how the parents raised the young woman, the words of this song came to mind. It reflects the greatest goal parents can have for their little girls.


Somewhere in the world today
A little girl will go out to play
All dressed up in mama's clothes
At least the way that I suppose it goes
Somewhere in the world tonight
Before she reaches to turn out the light
She'll be prayin' from a tender heart
A simple prayer that's a work of art

Chorus

And I don't even know her name
But I'm prayin' for her just the same
That the Lord will write His name upon her heart
'Cause somewhere in the course of this life
A little boy will need a godly wife
So hold on to Jesus, baby, wherever you are 
 
Somewhere in the world out there
That little girl's learnin' how to care
She's pickin' up her mamas charms
Or maybe, swingin' 'round in her daddy's arms
Somewhere in the world to be
Though the future's not real clear to me
Their's could be a tender love
Grounded in eternal love above lyrics by Wayne Watson


Parents, we have an awesome opportunity…don’t blow it!

My LIfe Changes Today

Our lives change forever today. Diana and I are taking Grace, our oldest daughter to college. It will be to begin her sophomore year, but her first time to live on campus and essentially out of the house. In unfamiliar surroundings, eating God only knows what at the university cafeteria and being around so many strangers.

I am not ready.

She has most of her dorm stuff packed and is champing at the bit to get on down the road and on with the rest of her life. Al the things that would worry me are the very things she is excited about! Doesn’t she understand what torment she is about to put her mother and I through?

Therein lies the root of the problem. It is not her confidence, but mine that is struggling. It is not her faith, but mine. She is ready to climb and conquer mountains; I am telling her to watch out for the uneven sidewalk in front of our house.

I think deep within the heart of every parent is the same nagging feeling when their children leave home? Can’t I get some more time to teach them or train them to prepare them for the adult world and to make their own way?
It is like life is cycling through again. There is something familiar about this. First time to leave her with a babysitter…first day of public school…heading out the door for Senior Prom.

Though Grace is going just 40 miles west to Hammond, Louisiana it is a separation and a change of life.

She leaves as my little girl and will continue to develop into a confident, amazing young woman.

That is why we named her Grace…God told us she would be amazing.

Love you baby. I think I will go watch Steve Martin in “Father of the Bride”.