Time Together
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Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
It’s been a tough few weeks.
It’s been a tough few weeks.
We have been going through some growing pains with my 4-year old. There are three key areas of his life that need some improvement. They are causing pain, frustration, heart-ache and the like for him and for his mother and me.
We have been doling out consequences and punishments for behaviors that are not befitting my son. Its been tough. Most of these things are occuring when we aren’t around. We hear about them after they have already taken place, when the deed is done.
So we spend lots of time talking about why something happened, whats going on in his heart, and the effect his decisions have. I’m not telling you all of this because I’m looking for parenting tips or advice. I’m not. I’m telling you this because God is teaching me something important through this process.
I am learning more about the Father and His love, the nature of our relationship than I had previously experienced and I want to share that with you.
Spending time with me.
Spending time with me.
See, as my son and I talk about whats going on in his life I feel this desire swell inside me. “If he could just spend more time with me, he would learn how to make better decisions.” I want his attention and his time, because I know that for his life to get qualitatively better he needs to spend more time with me.
Not perfection, but fullness.
Not perfection, but fullness.
Sometimes we get the relationship confused, thinking that we have to live up to God’s standards in order to be worthy of him. I pray my son, my daughter, no one believes that....
Jesus taught a parable about the love of the father that is only recorded in Luke. There was a father who had two sons and the youngest took his inheritance and went to a far land to spend it. When trouble came he was bankrupt and returns home empty handed to be a servant in the place we was once a son....
I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
I don’t want my son to learn from me, and to make better decisions so that he will become worthy of me.... he is my son. And I love him as such.
I want him to spend more time with me and make better decisions because I know that is what is best for his life.
What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
God, knew that walking in the garden with him, is what we needed. We need to spend more time with him because thats what’s best for us. He also knew that we are incapable of making good decisions....
So he sent his son,
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
I know what he’s going through.
I know what he’s going through.
Because I know what he is going through.
See all of the sin issues that he is dealing with, I’ve dealt with. As we journey through this part of life together it is calling to mind all kinds of memories I had forgotten from my childhood. I remember wanting to do things my way, which included laziness, and anger. I remember making poor decision based on a faulty sense of humor and enjoying the thrill of descent. I know what pain it causes over the course of years . & what I want for my son more than anything is a rich and vibrant life full of meaningful relationships and experiences now… not just tomorrow.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.