The Lord’s Heritage

I was glad to have a good night of rest and to feel more refreshed and more energy than I have experienced this week. I’m glad for that as I prepare for this weekend. We came to Lakewood today and stopped at our favorite Chinese food restaurant for lunch and then on to Christian and Bridget’s home. Tonight we will take care of Riley, Caedmon and Eliana as their parents go to a Christmas party.

As I get older I begin to reflect on my memories of parents and others and figure out how old they were at a given moment in history. I then compare it to my life today. I recall when my father was helping us load a moving van when we were moving from Colby to Kansas. As he as struggling with carrying a mattress down the stairs, it donned on me that he was not as strong as he use to be. I now realize he was 70 years old at the time!

So today Stephanie was telling us about Carter taking a Christmas story book to his kindergarten class. It was one of those books grandparents can record their voice as they read. I had recorded a “Charlie Brown Christmas” for Carter a couple of years ago. So he brings the book to his class and announces, “this book is read by my grandpa, he is really old and can’t walk!” One of these days Carter will realize how young I really was when he was only five.

Speaking of books, here is a picture of Riley and Caedmon with their books during reading time this afternoon.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.” Psalm 124:2-4

I was thinking about these verses regarding “children are a heritage from the Lord” as we have been visiting our son (Christian and wife Bridget) and grandchildren in Lakewood. Perhaps grandparents, feel it is more accurate to say, “grandchildren are a heritage from the Lord.” And then I think about parents who face the challenge of raising children at various points in their life and they may question whether or not “children are a heritage from the Lord!” They may be a test of patience, a challenge of endurance (i.e. “this too shall pass.”) from the Lord.

Children as a “heritage” or “reward” carries with it a sense of responsibility. It is not just a gift to be used or taken for granted it is something that in turn becomes the legacy of our lives. Perhaps these verses are important ones for new parents and during times parents bring their children for dedication. Shaping the lives and future of our children is a high calling and difficult task that just can’t be done on “the fly.” That is why I appreciate the work of my friend Kirk Weaver who is dedicated to equipping parents (and grandparents) to be proactive in the spiritual formation of the lives of their children. This is through the ministry of Family Time Training (www.famtime.com)

As I review the verses about children, I noticed the proximity to the verses about working day and night and not having rest. King  Solomon talked about the futility of work and misplaced priorities that can come with being absorbed in the activity of just “making a living.”

When our priorities are right in giving our attention to our “heritage from the Lord” then the Lord will grant us anxiety-free sleep as we take care of “first things first.”

We are proud of our children and their spouses and the job they are doing with their own “heritage” from the Lord. As we are in this holiday season, may you have a sense of “reward” in your time with children. (and grandchildren)