When my kids were all under the age of seven, my wife was a stay at home mom and would frequently take our children to the nursing home to sing to the residents. The elderly would love that children came by to visit because often their own family would not visit them enough. I remember the conversation my wife had with our little ones about not being afraid the first time going. You see little kids can be scared of the unknown. My wife knew that strangers were scary enough to our kids but add the fact that they were very old and often had oxygen tubes in their nose, it added up to a pretty big fear for a five year old to handle. To overcome this fear, my wife had our children by her side and showed them how easy it was to sing to and love on people.
This week we were preparing financial forms to send our oldest son off to college, out of state. Together, we had walked the campus months ago and yet there is definitely a lot of unknown when it comes to his college life. One of the few knowns is that my son understands that he is valued by Jesus and sees the value of Jesus in people. How do I know? Because while we trained him and showed him ourselves by our side that Jesus values him and others, he began to do the same for others on his own. There was no begging speech from dad or guilt trip from mom, just years of training and showing him his value in Jesus and Jesus’ value for people. Then I saw in him growth and spiritual maturity.
Spiritual Maturity can be measured on how deep we are willing to love the unlovely.
When did I know that our values were his values? When he began to love and train his younger brother in our values. You see any boy can offer affection to a cute girl or strangers in a moment, it takes a Christian man to love his younger brother who offers nothing but annoyance at times. How we love the unlovely that are closest to us is the hardest test.
Galatians 6:9-10 Esv And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
I am grateful for all the friends, coaches, teachers, children pastors and youth pastors that helped share our values to my oldest son. I am grateful for the Holy Spirit and all the times grace blanketed our parenting mistakes. My son recently said he is excited to find a church near the college campus to serve people and all I could think was, “I’m glad God’s values are your values!”
Hebrews 10:24-25 Esv And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Equipping Disciples of Jesus That Receive, Give and Serve In Grace,
Brandon Pollard
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