Just got back from a long weekend with my son. We golfed. We ate seafood. We golfed. We ate steak. We golfed. We ate Korean barbecue. It was great!
But as good as the golfing and eating was, it wasn’t the best part of the weekend.
No, the best part was the ongoing relationship we are building. It’s more than father-son. It’s man-to-man. Human-to-human. Learning to love and accept each other for who we are. Encouraging one another as we pursue life and the dreams God has placed in our hearts.
My son is an NCO in the military. He’s a mechanic.
When he was growing up, I insisted that he go to college. In fact, when he began High School in a new city, I went with him to the counselor’s office to enroll him in classes. The counselor looked over his records and suggested enrolling him in the tech prep. program.
“No way. This boy is enrolling in college prep.”
Reluctantly, the counselor did as Dad insisted.
For four years, we wrestled with grades. I tried tutoring the boy. His sisters tried tutoring their brother. Meanwhile, his mother hid his grades from me, afraid for his life. She was right to do so.
I was wrong.
Raise up a child in the way he or she should go, and when they are old, they will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)
How many times have I heard this verse quoted to refer to bringing our children up in church and in a home that honors God?
I don’t have any argument with that. However, the most accurate translation of this verse would read something like this -
Raise up a child according to his or her way.
My son’s way was not college prep. My desire to force that life upon him was a failure on my part.
It could have been worse.
It’s so easy to try and impose our will and desires on others, especially those we love. We think we know what’s best for them. The sooner we realize we don’t, the better off everyone will be.
And for those who think they do know what’s best. For those who are right, let me remind you of a little placard I saw years ago - and should have paid more attention to at the time . . .
Lord, when we are wrong, make us willing to change, and when we are right, make us easy to live with.
Now, that’s a prayer we could all stand to pray!
In Christ,
Dan
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You can listen to my weekly messages at Embrace Church, High Point.
Love it! I grew up with an 'always right' parent. If I did it a different way or didn't agree, I was always wrong. So glad to have this message to out to parents. I think we've done a lot of damage to a lot of people in our mistranslations - or misunderstanding of the heart of the gospel.