Example for Children

This truism extends blessings...

This truism extends blessings from generation to generation by creating an eternal marking upon one’s offspring. Take a look at your past photos of your parents and even your parents' parents. Can you identify similar features that you share with each of them? If one recognizes physical resemblance, what about the intangible similarities to include characteristics and traits that you share? Because of such a profound connection with self to one’s family, the Savior proposed a unique question to his disciples when questioned about who is the greatest in the kingdom. He placed a child in midst of them followed by this statement: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” (Matthew 18:1-5) Although, this lesson explains humility, the Savior points the disciples to their younger selves when they too were children of innocence. So notice that this truism reminds us that a blessed child results from a righteous parent who never forgets his child-like spirits.  The need for greatness and outward distinction becomes less in the child’s mind than the adult way of thinking. A child incurs the dependence on his parent less than an older self. So a child develops into adult-like traits By imitating his parent. Consequently,  the humbleness of mind as demonstrated in selflessness returns when one has a child-like spirit. As one resonates his child-like spirit, it will lead to righteousness, resulting with blessed offspring.

If one subscribes to old idiom, “the apple does not fall far from the tree” meaning that children are like their parents. I can definitely agree with this idiom; simply because I see my father’s ways and behavior as I interact daily with people. So as one avoids the pitfall of self-centeredness and gravitate toward a humility mindset, your child will tap into positive experiences instead of negative experiences as life unfolds. In other words, a person gravitate toward his parent’s action under life stresses from a learned behavior instead reacting in one’s best interest under such challenges. For instance, if one seeks aspiration to have a blessed child, then one must demonstrate how to bless others through humility to implant such behavior in his child. Remember, the writing of Apostle Paul to the Philippians, as he explained humility in describing the role of the Savior: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2:5-9) As Jesus imitated his Father through humility, likewise; the recipient of a blessed child emanates self-effacing for his child to replica.

Remember that a heavenly mindset allows you to impart the same selfless life style to your child. So the formula for a blessed child evolves around you living the same child-like life in front of your child. Equally, the child will repeat the same imparting to his child, reflecting a child-like spirit comparable to the truism – “The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them." (Proverbs 20:7 NIV)

Lessons Learned from my Father-n-Law

I grasped a new revelation regarding the role of a father as Rev. Rufus Grant (pastor of New Beginnings Missionary Baptist) explained the difference of a hireling and a shepherd during Sunday service. Although, I have heard similar sermons about the “Good Shepherd” but today his message unfolded a new revelation from an unlikely Scripture. “Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd.” (Numbers 27:16-17). This verse provides the necessity of a shepherd for the congregation likewise each family needs a shepherd to aid with the growth of the family. During his sermon, I thought about the role of a father like the Good Shepherd for a congregation. For instance, Rev. Grant listed five points in his comparison of a hireling:

     1. The hireling is a hired person who works for money. Hired individual only considers the gain that he receives during the course of his serving. 

     2. The hireling as a hired person lacks the value of working because his heart centers on the profitable gain of monetary value.

     3. The hireling runs away when the work faces opposition.

     4. The hireling lacks faithfulness if such service become unprofitable.

     5. The hireling seeks only self-gratification.  

Unlike a hireling, God places a father in charge of the family. Likewise, a father must value his role wholeheartedly. He must demonstrate an unwillingness to relinquish his family responsibilities despite oppositions. In John 10:12 (NIV), “the hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.” This Scripture reveals that a hireling runs away from the sheep when the wolf comes comparably a father faces the wolf unwavering while protecting his family with an attitude that he will lay down his life for them. As demonstrated in John 10:15… “I lay down my life for the sheep.” Since, the wolf symbolizes any issue that bring hard times, the father serves as the resilience for the family while each family member explores the various opportunities of life.  

Unselfish love drives the will of the shepherd unlike money for the hireling. The monetary profit for a shepherd generates an irrelevant commodity since a shepherd’s perception coincides with a heavenly outcome. Likewise, the father views his family through the eyes of love while making decisions from the heart instead of a selfish mindset. 

Ultimately, the father through love becomes the center of gravity that sustains a family for each member to live life fully and abundantly. So I encourage fathers to awake to this new revelation and fulfill your shepherd's roles in the family. 

Reasons for Groaning

For verily in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from heaven:
2 Corinthians 5:2

What if no person ever dies? If persons live forever on this earth, will we have a need to grow spiritually? We noticed that in the New Testament that we groan for a heavenly presence while on earth echoing a need to exist beyond this earthly realm.

Groaning can easy communicate a painful effort of moving from one state to another state. Such occurred to me after a knee surgery when I accidentally rupture my patella tendon playing basketball. During rehabilitation which immediately occurred the next day after surgery, I literally cried from the excruciating pain as I tried bending my knee. I wanted to rest but the bending of the knee to a certain degree became paramount to prevent freezing. Therefore, my groaning resulted in exercising the knee at the prescribed level that eventually enabled me walk again.

Equally, life situation causes us to groan and to escape such groaning ones must recognize the need for growth. The groaning provides a glimpse of being clothed in your heavenly body while living on earth. Therefore, life situation that causes us to cry on earth brings us closer to the growth needed for heavenly preparation. So instead of criticizing your situation just embrace these earthly circumstances with groaning while realizing that each groan enables growth needed for heavenly profits. As noted in Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.