Reflections

With the pace of life that we lead, it is easy to take things for granted. In the last few days I have been reflecting on the many blessings I enjoy. As I contemplated, I was reminded that the most significant things in my life did not come about quickly, but were developed one small step at a time.

As a young couple Linda and I had people who understood the principle of taking a long versus a short view of things. Gregg Harris is one of those people. One of the lessons we learned from Gregg is taken from Psalm 127: 3-5 Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.

Gregg helped us to understand that our responsibility to our children goes far beyond simply caring and providing for theirs needs. He helped us to realize that they are part of an inheritance from God through whom the world can be impacted for His glory. That simple thought changed the way we parented our children; it caused us to have a long view of our responsibility. It gave us a purpose of investing in our children in a way that went way beyond the daily routine of family life.

Today, as the father of five grown, married children, who are starting families of their own, I can tell you it works. Small, sometimes indiscernible steps, consistently taken in a specific direction over time, can bring about amazing results. The relationships we enjoy with our children are the by-products of the purposeful investments we made in their lives.

My prayer is that you will not settle for a quick fix, short-term approach to life but will opt for a long-term investment approach with your family. Children, like crops, take a long time to develop. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:7, 9.