Today, I decided to go on a date with my son. I am trying to do this once a month with each of my sons. My oldest one is super busy with “adulting”. However, my younger three are free for me to hang out with most days. I truly believe that kids, in general, need time with their mom and dad one on one. And I know that it is helping them in knowing that they are supported which makes them more grounded as independent individuals.
My 11-year-old is my date today. We had some errands to run which included a trip to the thrift store to get a couple of pairs of pants for him. He has grown out of the “boy” size and into the “man” size of pants. It was “yellow tag” day there. At this certain thrift store, they have tags of different colors depending on when they put the item out to sell. Some tags are purple. Some are blue. Some are green, red, or orange. But today they have the yellow tags on sale, which means that the items with a yellow tag are $0.98 regardless of what the price on the tag states. This means my son can get a couple of shirts as well as pants. He took off in search of 3 shirts that he would like while I searched for pants in his size.
This is a day spent focused on him. I hear him out daily. But when we run errands any other day, it is more spent on obtaining items for the household in general. Today was more geared toward fulfilling his specific needs without the interruptions usually associated with having little brothers. He is an artistic guy. So we spent some time coloring and drawing. He is such a dear-heart.
The most special thing he got today was his hat. It is a bright orange one, and he was very protective of it. It was almost as if he didn’t want to let go of it to let the cashier scan it. Of course, I had to chuckle to myself. I have done that before when I was his age. To be so excited to get something at the store was a special and rare treat, and I want to make sure my sons feel at least a portion of how much they mean to me. And I want them to know that I support them no matter what they do, because they are intrinsically worthy of love and kindness.
This is the next generation of children to contribute as much as they can for us. He is the future of our family and passing on the Word that is entrusted to him. He and his brothers will be the ones that will need all of the strength and support they can possibly get to “keep on keeping on”.
Over and over again, we see in the Bible stories of how parents begged Jesus to help them with their children. In John 4: 46-54, there was a certain “Nobleman” whose son was sick at Capernaum. He had come to Galilee seeking Jesus out specifically to heal his dying son. It says that the son was “at the point of death”. He implored that Jesus come to his son in Capernaum and physically be near his son to keep him from dying. This man journeyed a couple of miles all for the sake of his son. You can see the terrific amount of love this man had for his son in this passage.
There is another passage concerning a man named Jairus in Luke 8:40-42,49-56. It says in vs. 41-42, “And behold there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter about 12 years of age, and she was dying.” This guy was a very important man. And in that time, it would have been shameful to be a ruler and beg at someone’s feet, especially if they were not of a high socioeconomic status. However, out of love for his daughter, he humbled himself before Jesus and begged Him to heal his daughter. But here is the thing. People came from this man’s house and told him that his daughter already died and therefore to give up. But Jesus, upon hearing this, told the man, “do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.”
Can you imagine your child so very sick in the hospital that he/she is on the verge of death, and you go seek out anything and everything you can to “fix” your dear sweet child? Then, just when you are at the end of the line, you have one last effort, but before you can secure that healing for your child, you get a call stating that your child has passed. I can only imagine that this man’s heart dropped at the news of his daughter, his only daughter. Imagine how this man must have felt. All of the blood must have drained from his face causing him to go pale and nearly pass out in front of this crowd of people surrounding him and Jesus, watching to see what Jesus does. Then Jesus said not to fear. I believe that Jesus told him also the equivalent of saying, “It’s gonna be okay. I’m with you.”
What I am trying to show is that parents have a love for their children that is stronger than love for a neighbor or friend or even another family member. They are ours. And just like we love our children with everything that we have, the Father loves us and cherishes us. But unlike us, the Father is able to be everywhere at all times. He is with us always. He supports us without limit. The way that I look at my son, which is with a love stronger than I thought I could have ever experienced before having my own child, is just a small portion of what the Father has for us.
We are loved so deeply and truly. And we don’t need a special “date” with Him so get that feeling of support and love required to keep pressing forward in life. He is always with us. He is there to hear us out, motivate us, and simply comfort us when we need it. And like these other parents, He put it all on the line for us to reconnect our relationship that at one time was severed.
Today, as I spend time with my son, I am remembering that the Father is right there spending time with us as well. He is the Perfect Parent looking out for my needs as well as the “desires of my heart”.
Gotta go fill up my cup…..
Coffee with Candee 