When I grow up

When I was in school, I had a cassette tape that had a song on it entitled something like, “When I grow up.”  When children are young, most of them want to grow up and be like their parents. This song was written by an adult who was singing to the Lord and basically saying, “When I grow up, Lord, I want to be just like you.”  I only remember a few verses of the song. As best as I can remember it went like this…

When I grow up, I want to be just like You.

I want to learn to love the way You do.

I’d like for people to say with a smile,

He’s surely his Father’s child.

And, when I grow up, I want to be just like You.

I don’t know why that has stuck in my head all these years. Sometimes I sing those few verses to my children. With that song in my head, the past few days I have been musing…for those of us who had to look that word up it means meditating in silence. There are some thoughts and verses that have been running through my mind like deer through the forest on opening day of deer season. Let’s see if I can catch them and put them in an order that makes sense.

The other day I was “discussing,” or should I say “fussing,” about the state of our financial affairs. I was in the middle of a heated speech to my wife about how I am going to have to take on a second job and work all the overtime I could just to make ends meet. As I was bubbling forth my nonsense, the Holy Spirit impressed upon me to watch my children. There they were running through the house, chasing each other, totally oblivious to the state of our financial affairs. They were laughing and playing and living life.

I was reminded how we as Christians are to have a faith like that of a child. My precious children didn’t and don’t have a care in the world. When they get hungry, they know Mom or Dad will prepare them a meal. When they have a need, they know Mom and Dad will do everything they can to meet that need. They completely trust us.

Christ said in Matthew 18…

Matthew 18:3  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

            We are to become as little children. Isn’t that about right? I spend my whole life trying to grow up and become mature and handle all my problems on my own and the Lord tells me I must become as a child. Truly His ways are not my ways and His thoughts are not my thoughts!  His ways and thoughts are higher than I could ever attain unto in my flesh.

            I watched my children and the Holy Spirit impressed upon my soul my need to be more like them in that I needed to depend completely on my Heavenly Father as my children depend on me. When they are scared they cry out for Daddy. When they are hungry, they cry out for Mommy. When they are hurt they cry for Mommy or Daddy. They know when they have a cut or scrape that Daddy will get out his favorite first aid pouch and will doctor them up. They know that Mommy will turn on the stove and cook them a meal when they are hungry. They know that Daddy will protect them when they are scared. How much more will our Heavenly Father, who loves us perfectly, provide for us and take care of us?

When I grow up…I want to be just like my children. I want to trust my Heavenly Father the way they trust me.

As I was thinking this thought, I was still rambling on to my wife about how I am going to have to take on a second job…I didn’t know I could do two things at once. I can think about one thing and be talking about something else at the same time?!

I was telling my wife how I would get a second job and work from 8am to 4pm at my regular job, then I would have enough time to get home, eat and head off to a second job and work part-time from 5pm to 9pm. Even as I said such foolishness, my spirit was convicted and my wife’s response confirmed my foolishness.

The Lord has been impressing upon me the absolute importance of me (being the daddy) teaching my children of the Lord. If I work two jobs, sure we would have more money, but when would I have time open the word of God and read to my children and teach them of the Lord? I wouldn’t.

John 6:27  Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for the meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you; for him hath God the Father sealed.

As the husband and father of my family, I am to provide a living for them. By the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ I can and do. However, there are things in this life more important than living a financially comfortable life. There was a time when I made twice what I do now and it was the most miserable time of my life. I worked long hours and was not at home as much as I needed to be. Now finances are getting tighter, but there has not been one time when we have had a need that has not been met.

Matthew 6:25-33

25  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

26  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

27  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

28  And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which is to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

31  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, what shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

How many times have I read this and soon forgot? How many more times will the Lord remind me of these truths? He will remind me as often as it takes. I am thankful that He is patient with His own.

Oh, that I could be like the Apostle Paul who said…

Philippians 4:11-13

11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

12  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

I am thankful the Lord reminds me of the truths found in His word. Before I could finish my speech to my wife, the conviction of the Holy Spirit came. Once again I had been trusting in my own ability to meet the needs of my family rather than trusting in the Lord God Almighty. Through the word of God, the wisdom from my wife, and the worry free life of my children, the Holy Spirit put me back on track. Though having breathing room financially would be nice, it is not the most important thing I can do for my family. The most important thing I can do is point them to Christ and lead them in the way everlasting.