Today, as I was reflecting on the New Year, I remembered this is a milestone year for me. On August 5, 1961 I was born. You don’t have to be a mathematician to realize August 5, 2011 marks my 50th birthday. Even though it’s not a milestone some people look forward too, there are many reasons to celebrate life and aging. Of course, if I permit myself, I could list some things I don’t like about turning fifty. But “this is the day the Lord has made.” Wishing to turn back time doesn’t do anything but waste our today! Three reasons I will celebrate another birthday are:
#1 - Every moment in time is a gift of God
#2 - I love life and birthdays’ beat the alternative
#3 - The older I get, the more I appreciate the father heart of God
In my teenage years, the quality of my life was my primary objective. I was a Christian who had compassion for others, but my feelings were most powerfully influenced by how things affected me. These feelings were driven by both immaturity and lack of life experience, but they were real feelings.
I fell in love with my wife Donna and my primary objectives changed. Suddenly, while I still had feelings, my life became influenced by what was happening in someone else’s life. Her joy gives me joy, her victories are my victories, and her tragedies are my tragedies.
Life was good! It could not get any better, could it? But it did! On April 5, 1982 came the arrival of our first child, Rebecca. She immediately, apart from any action, captured my heart! She could not walk or talk. She mainly slept, ate, & filled diapers. But that did not matter to dad. She was my little girl! I shall never forget the powerful contradictory feelings of ecstasy and terror she brought. She was beautiful. She was precious. She was glorious! (By the way she still is today) I did not see any flaws, only potential. Yet, when we took her home, it occurred to me just how little I knew about being a dad. I still remember the emotions I felt the first time she had a fever and the first time a young boy called to talk to her.
This joyous occasion was followed on January 28, 1987 and April 22, 1990 with the arrival of two more children. Both were boys: Matthew and Jesse. More than ever before my life was influenced by the quality of someone else’s life. The older I get, the broader the circle of influence grows. I now have three grandchildren with one more on the way.
When I think about how I feel about my wife, children and grandchildren and how powerfully their well being influences my well being, I remember that God made us after His own image.
Our ability to love our children did not originate with man. It originated with God.
Matt …You're at least decent to your own children. So don't you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better? Message
I never really comprehended how much my parents loved me, until I had my own children. This incredible love that now allows me to rejoice in my children’s victories even more than my own is a picture of how much God loves me. We are God’s children. He loves us more than we love Him.
God is the perfect father.
With each addition in my life, you would have thought my love was maxed out. Yet, I find the more we have to love, the more love we have to give. God’s love is the same, only greater. He loves all of His children beyond our capacity to understand that love. His day’s and nights are filled with thoughts of us and with the desire for our good. Jer 29:11-13 I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out — plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. 12 "When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. 13 "When you come looking for me, you'll find me. Message
The truth is we cannot turn back the clock of time. Like it or not, we will get older until we die. However, regardless of our marital status, or whether we have children or don’t have children, we can connect our heart with our loving Heavenly father. We can experience His perfect love, and share that love with those around us. In so doing our capacity to love and feel loved will increase. And our time on earth will grow more precious with each new day and new person coming into our life.
