The Art of Growing Up

I'm learning a lot about growing up. Yes, I'm thirty. That is painfully obvious, still, I manage to find things to learn. It's almost as if my gramma was right when she declared "you learn something new every day".

This afternoon my in laws are over helping out with some things around the house, I'm inside watching Ollie while I try and finish up some work for my best customer. This is really a great life. I can provide for my family while being barefoot and watching my son make funny noises while he sleeps in his snugabunny.

We were in worship, as usual, this Sunday morning singing and my son, with his tiny little meat hook, held my finger pretty much the whole time.

Then it hit me: this is how we ought to hold on to Christ. 

Not to keep from falling but because we Love Him. 

But how often are we trying desperately to do what we ought instead of looking to Him who has promised to make us walk in His statutes? Don't mistake what I'm saying, we must fight tooth and nail against sin but the way we do that is not through willful white knuckle obedience. I think we do that through willful surrender.

Sin is the symptom of a heart in need of sanctification, that's all. In order for us to be better our sick hearts must get healthier.

Who but God can do that?

When I hold  my son, who's mobility skills range from kicking to slowly inching backwards off a pillow, he's holding on to me. He's doing that but not in the same way that I hold on to him. Does that register? He may hold on to me with ALL his might but compared to my finite full grown man strength it doesn't even come close to keeping him where he needs to be.

This is a GLORIOUS picture of God the Father keeping us, pruning us, and sanctifying us.

Think about it. My son holds on to me in a completely different way that I hold on to him. I keep him from falling into the concrete. He just likes to hold on to my finger.

He isn't even aware that my body gave out he could crash and his life could end. He doesn't need that information to grab my thumb. Ya know what all he needs? Ya know what his motivation is for latching on with all his might?

He loves me.

True, his love is about as shallow as a sponge bath but it's there. Sure he doesn't have a lot of options, the latest playstationxboxwii has yet to capture his fancy but here he is loving me and his mom with everything his tiny little heart can muster.

The Lord is using my son and my wife to teach me so much that I just missed in the first three decades of life. To anyone who knows me it is painfully obvious that I've got much room to grow but... my Dad is holding on to me. He's holding me, my wife, my marriage, my family... He's not finite in strength, either. He won't get tired and frustrated. He doesn't grow weary of my failures. He doesn't even demand that I color in all the lines or hold on to Him every second.

He lovingly, patiently, takes my hand, guides me, and my job isn't to be perfect because He knows the task of being perfect has been completed in the life of His only begotten Son who's life I am clothed with and who's death has set me free from the bondage of sin and death.

No, my job isn't to be perfect. My job is to grow and hold on to Him.

As I grow strength becomes more abundant. I can do more but  no matter how strong I get I will forever need my Father in heaven.

 I will forever need my redeeming Christ who's blood has paid my ransom