Presents From Heaven
Presents from Heaven
Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord, children, a reward. (Ps. 127:3)
The Gift That Takes
The Bible makes clear that our children are a gift from God. When things are going great, when our young kids draw pictures of us to put on the refrigerator, they feel like a gift. When they hit their teens, however, they may not feel so much like a present. But unlike a gift from a store, your children are nonreturnable and nonrefundable. God will eventually want them back from you but not until He achieves His aims for both parent and child.
The Gift That Gives
Most of us Christian dads are pretty clear on the idea that God is using us to mold and shape the character and heart of our kids. But we are often less clear on the fact that God is using our kids to mold and shape us. To be a good dad is to live a sacrificial life. It comes with the job description. We invest our time, energy, money, emotions, blood, sweat, and tears into the lives of our kids. And we keep on doing it over the long haul.
It’s not easy. But when we love our kids even during the times they break our hearts, we gain deeper insight into the heart of our Father in heaven who relentlessly loves and gives to us. God is using our kids to make us more noble, more mature, and more like Jesus. And like every worthwhile thing in life, the challenges only make the rewards sweeter.
Bottom Line
Identify five ways God is using your children to shape your heart. Then pray that you’ll learn each lesson well.