God IS shelter. He intervenes over and over into our lives to help us to find the way of truth and freedom of soul – and the Door to eternity. This is to be the goal and work of every parent. We live in an imperfect world and yet we are tasked with “Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) There is nothing automatic about this. It is not so much a promise but a principle. If we do our heart work we give our sons and daughters all we can to find their way within their own journey.
Check this out: “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.” – Deuteronomy 6:4-7
The woven biblical thread concerning family is displayed both through principle and the examples revealed in the timeless God Story. From this we derive a home base, allowing us to return again and again to the fountain of life for the benefit of those we love – through good times and bad.
Consider this: “Unless the Lord builds the house, they work in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in futility. It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep. Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.” Psalm 127
Here are some of the ways we shelter those we love:
√ We can give them every opportunity to know truth and honor as it is imperfectly pursued and lived out in our family’s life.
√ We can love each other in a way which brings security and steadfast love into the challenges of our own family story.
√ We can walk beside each other and our children through the ups and downs that inevitably come as the years unfold. Parenting giving way to friendship is a gift. We can be a steady, loving force – no matter how imperfect our stories.
√ We can pursue our own humility in God and faithfully live that humility out in love toward our kids and grandkids.
√ We are given the great hope of interceding and praying for our kids. As they encounter their ups and downs, we can be there, taking their needs (and ours) before the throne of grace to find mercy in our times of need.
√ We can be a good friend to others and model this as best we can for our own family, with the hope each one will find the shelter of selfless friendship.
“May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.” Ruth 2:12
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust! For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and armor to protect us.” Psalm 91:1-4
While we live in an imperfect environment (and family) our God is Good. When we call upon the Lord on behalf of ourselves and our family we are doing the work of God.
Living God, You are the Deliverer of our souls and those we love!
Dave and Burnadette
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