Thankyou Mum. You carried me, bore me, fed me, taught me, laughed with me, supported me, loved me, disciplined me, hugged me, and so much more. You taught me and showed me the love of Jesus Christ and the security, joy and hope to be found in him alone. You forsook your own desires and needs in order to meet mine just as Christ did at the cross of calvary. Thankyou.
Mothers Day is a wonderful day to celebrate and be thankful for our mums. But it can also be a difficult day.
This Mother’s Day may come as yet another reminder that you don’t have something you desire. Another year of miscarriages, infertility, or even waiting for a child through the adoption process. Whatever the unfulfilled desire, it tugs at your heart and plagues your mind.
I pray that all of us, mother or otherwise, would know the deep love and grace of Christ and that we’d have the strength to live each day for him. Through the struggles and exhaustion of parenthood, or the grief of childlessness, let’s support and love one another as the family of God.
Tag: family
I’m writing to you from Wentworth Falls where I’m spending the week with 5 other pastors helping each other grow in our faith in Christ and focus on ministry in a long term sustainable way. We started the week by taking time to share our life stories, the highs and lows, the glory and the shame. It was quite confronting and emotional (much tears and laughter), but also comforting to be able to share deeply together and trust each other with the intimate details of our lives.
It is remarkable to hear how God has been at work among his people, bringing salvation and reconciliation. We are all broken people with stories of joy and gladness, and stories of shame and sadness. But if we invite Christ to be part of our stories by trusting and submitting to him as Lord and Saviour we can walk with confidence and assurance – knowing that whatever else happens around us we know we are loved by him.
We are the family of God, united by our adoption as sons and daughters of our heavenly Father. Let’s tell each other our stories, trusting one another with the highs and lows, the triumphs and the regrets and walking together in love. Let’s not play the game of putting on a facade, but be honest and real with each other. Let’s grow together in love for Christ and one another.
When I was a kid, family life was simple. There was mum, dad and my three brothers. We saw the grandparents and the cousins too, pretty regularly, until they moved away from Dapto (why would anyone do that!?).
But as families grow they get more complicated. At Christmas time now we travel between my family and Kate’s. There are more and more kids to include and consider each year. We have to make sure the diaries line up for the occasional birthday get together. It won’t be long before our children have their own events they want to be at and we have to consult their diaries too. It is truly wonderful to be part of a large and growing family, but sometimes I hark back to the simplicity of those earlier days.
I anticipate our Church might feel a bit like that as we grow. It becomes more and more difficult to know everyone’s name. We have to work harder and harder to make sure everyone feels included and cared for. We might have to implement systems and strategies because doing it ‘ad-hoc’ just doesn’t work anymore.
But isn’t it wonderful to see our family grow and flourish – as we strive to bring ‘Life, Growth and Love in Jesus Christ’ to as many people as possible.
Sometimes I’d much rather sit at home on the couch and watch a movie. People are hard work. Church is tiring. And it takes effort to rally all the kids and get everyone out the door after a busy week and weekend. Afterwards I’m usually glad I made the effort: challenged by the Word of God; uplifted by the singing; and encouraged by the fellowship. But even if I don’t enjoy Church it’s still important to go along – because going to Church isn’t just about ‘me’ and what I get out of it. Going to Church is actually about ‘us’ – it’s about God’s people gathered. All encouraging each other and working together as a team, as the body of Christ. When one part is missing, the whole body doesn’t function as it should, the whole body suffers for it.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another– and all the more as you see the Day approaching“. (Heb. 10:24-25)
Fathers Day is a great opportunity to celebrate the important role Fathers have in the life of the family. Being a Dad isn’t easy – I can certainly attest to that. It requires patience and love, endurance and self-control, gentleness and strength. None of us are perfect in the role, but if we do our best to provide stability, love and godly leadership to our wives and our children then we are making an enormous contribution to the well-being of the family and to the health of our Church and society.
When God made humanity he made us male and female to complement each other. Both equal and in God’s image, but each different and unique. A man who rules over his family, who demands obedience or who uses strength or violence to get his way is not following Christ’s example. Each Christian man is to strive to emulate the sacrificial love of Christ Jesus in laying aside his own needs to care for the needs of others. In using his strength to love and serve with gentleness.
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” – Ephesians 5:25.
