Today

(picture from soufulspoon.com)

What if we succeed? What if – as a parent (or any task we complete, really), we’re successful at our job? Of course, we didn’t measure up every single day; no one does except Jesus Himself. But, thank God for grace!

But looking back at your seasonal job completed, there’s great news and for some of us a bit of hard news, too. The great news is we’ve raised self-sufficient, God-dependent men and women; people who will make an impact on the world - in big ways and in small everyday ways. They’ll be armed and equipped to raise their children.

As a learning, growing woman of God, naturally I want to see my children making an impact in the lives around them – for Christ, and to advance His kingdom. But, what if they’re not serving Christ – does that mean we failed? Absolutely not! God is our heavenly Father, we are His children, and do we all glorify Him? No. Is He a failure? No in every different way you can say it!

Are your children free to ask questions? Are they free to search out life on their own? Do they have resources available to them wherein they can pose their questions and argue their points, voice their frustrations? The answer to those questions, in most cases, is a resounding yes!

God is true to His Word and true to His promises. Diligently seek after His Word for your children and continue to pray it over them; His Word does not return void. We each have our own journey through this life, a journey we have to walk out on our own. We can be nurtured and taught, but we all make our own mistakes; we each trip over different rocks. Exercise your faith, see your child as God does and watch and pray, believing God for the fruit of your seeds sown.

But, what’s that hard news I mentioned?

As with any job well-done, and with any leaders who lead well – you’ll likely outlive the task at hand. Though we’ll always be our children’s parents, they won’t always need us like they did when they were little. If we were good parents (no parent is perfect), they will love us forever. Even if we were not-so-good, chances are, they’ll love us forever, even if they find along the way that they don’t actually like us.

Kissing one job good-bye and looking for another good and useful purpose can be a challenge. But when we sit and wallow in how well our children are doing, that’s a complete waste of self-pity! Realistically, I can’t think of any good use for self-pity. How many days will we throw away, never to be lived again, wishing we could cling to the usefulness we used to feel; being needed in the same ways we were in the past?

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” – Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV)

Not only have our children grown, we have too! We aren’t the same men and women we were when our children were young. We’re equipped to do even more, and to do it more effectively. Look at all the years of practice we’ve had, learning from mistake after mistake!

“The steps of a good [wo]man are ordered by the LORD; and he delighteth in his way.” – Psalm 37:23 (KJV)

Today is all we have. Yesterday is gone. Face it. Tomorrow isn’t promised. Don’t waste your precious moments looking back. Don’t long for what used to be, get excited about what is right now. Look up from any despair or anxiety or sorrow you may be wallowing in and experience what this moment in time holds for you. God’s plans are on-going and perfect. He knew this day would come and this part of our purposes here would be completed; He’s seen the end from the beginning. His game plan continues. It’s your choice, sit on the sidelines until you die – or jump back in the game. Our Head Coach calls the plays, not us. Seek Him today for what He’s got planned next!

And one of everyone’s favorites: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:11-13 (KJV)