Day 16 of 500.
Family
“Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind.” Proverbs 11:29
I have one struggle that is hard for me to overcome, keeping in touch with family. Realize that when you read these blog posts, I have read them at least six times before I share them. I am always the primary recipient of the message. I sit on the front row of every sermon I preach.
A good friend that I consider family sent me this yesterday:
I ran into a stranger as he passed by,
“Oh excuse me please” was my reply.
He said, “Please excuse me too;
I wasn’t watching for you.”
We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our way and we said goodbye.
But at home a different story is told,
How we treat our loved ones, young and old.
Later that day, cooking the evening meal,
My son stood beside me very still.
When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.
“Move out of the way,” I said with a frown.
He walked away, his little heart broken.
I didn’t realize how harshly I’d spoken.
While I lay awake in bed,
God’s still small voice came to me and said,
“While dealing with a stranger,
common courtesy you use,
but the family you love, you seem to abuse.
Go and look on the kitchen floor,
You’ll find some flowers there by the door.
Those are the flowers he brought for you.
He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.
He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,
you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes.”
By this time, I felt very small,
And now my tears began to fall.
I quietly went and knelt by his bed;
“Wake up, little one, wake up,” I said.
“Are these the flowers you picked for me?”
He smiled, “I found ’em, out by the tree.
I picked ’em because they’re pretty like you.
I knew you’d like ’em, especially the blue.”
I said, “Son, I’m very sorry for the way I acted today;
I shouldn’t have yelled at you that way.”
He said, “Oh, Mom, that’s okay.
I love you anyway.”
I said, “Son, I love you too,
and I do like the flowers, especially the blue.”
“Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days.
But the family we left behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives.
And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than into our own family, an unwise investment indeed, don’t you think?”
The news is rampant about the improving economy, 401K and other investment plans are at record highs. Yesterday however there was a record loss on Wall Street. There are no certainties in those investments except uncertainty.
However yesterday a friend of mine also had a tremendous loss, his dad.
“Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind.” Proverbs 11:29
The opposite of that is also true. My friend’s dad by choosing Christ and showing that example to his family inherited something forever true, not a myth, not a vapor, not the wind as atheists will say. He did not end his life on earth with silver and gold:
“…knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” 1Peter 1:18-19.”
Instead my friend’s dad knew the importance of following the investment advice of Jesus Christ:
“Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Mathew 6:20-21
I made sure yesterday to stop and spend some time with my Dad. I spoke with both of my children in person or on the phone and had a “date night” with my wife.
However my day began with my mother letting me know on Facebook that she found out I had a new job on Facebook. I have not made a deposit into my relationship account with her in a while. The same is true with my sister, they both live 100’s of miles away, but modern technology gives me no excuse.
My new employer has an excellent 401k match program, but they can’t come close to matching the dividends time invested in my family rewards me.
I struggle to make time to pray, write, exercise and meet the needs of my job each day. I made time to talk to an old friend on the phone last night. But I must be more vigilant visiting with family.
God knows the hurt when his children neglect him. Read Malachi 1:
Verse 2 “I have always loved you,” says the Lord.
But you retort, “Really? How have you loved us?”
And the Lord replies, “This is how I showed my love for you…..” Then the Lord lists all he had done for their family, their forefathers.
In verse 6: The Lord says: “A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve?”
“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12
God promises not just a long life but a full life. That long full life includes time with your family. Apple seeds planted reap apples. Time invested with your family now will reap time with them when you are old, and if you have all accepted Christ then time together forevermore is your inheritance.
This post is my longest to date because it is where I need the most help.
As I struggle with my oldest living away I understand more what my mother feels. It is summed up in this video: https://youtu.be/7b3313ch6lU
Pray for my friend in his time of loss, but let us use the reminder to hold close to our own loved ones while they are here.
Friends and family, although I don’t say it enough,
I love you,
Billy