Many people feel that what define them are the work that they have done, the influence they have on a certain industry and the possessions they have accumulated through hard work. But anyone who has worked extremely hard for all of these will agree that none of these things truly give meaning to life.
I admit to having lost myself to this great blindness at some point. The greatest eye opener was the day that God showed His most lavish grace by bringing two wonderful people into my life: my wife, Ces, and my daughter, Alexa. I'd like to take the opportunity to share with you one very powerful message that one half of my life goal, my daughter, has taught me in the three years so far that I have been a father to her.
In the three years that I have spent as a father, I have had my fair share of terrible mistakes. I'm nowhere close to being the most perfect dad, but despite my shortcomings, my daughter, Alexa, has grown to be smart, beautiful, kind-hearted and God-fearing.
In one instance, as I took Alexa out to play outdoors with some kids, she started pointing kids to an image of Jesus in a mural and started teaching them to pray. Imagine a 3-year-old evangelizing, and I never even taught her to do that!
That moment I realized just how gracious and loving our Father in heaven is, that even though we fail as earthly fathers, he gives us the privilege to watch our children grow up to be blessings and not burdens. Psalm 127:3 reminds us, "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward."
The one lesson that I have learned from my daughter is the lesson of the grace of our Abba Father. No more, no less. After all the things I've done wrong, I don't deserve my daughter. Sure I made some right decisions along the way, but in totality, I have disqualified myself from the privilege of being a father.
I have lost my temper, neglected Alexa's needs at times, put myself before her and many other small but significant failures that would never let me come up to the standards of fatherhood that our Abba Father desires of us.
But one thing is clear: Even when we fail as parents, He never does, and He continues to work miraculously in the lives of our children. Without God, our families would be nowhere. But because He is our heavenly Father, He helps our children grow and invites us to celebrate in their life. Indeed children are a heritage and one that comes only from the Lord.
Looking at the lives of your children, what are some pieces of evidence that God has been gracious even when you failed? Start thanking God for those today.
