Snapshots

As I look back over my life, I am struck by how much like a picture album my memory is. I remember snippets of time. There is the image of my lovely bride at the back of the church on that day 19-1/2 years ago. There is the picture of my precious little girl (now 15 and wanting to drive) in her car seat watching me bowl. There is the image of the precious moments doll look of my other little girl when she first came to live with us (she is now 13 almost 14). And I remember my son as this screaming, squirming little thing (he just turned 13).

Pictures. I have lost so many memories of them growing up. I was the dad with three kids under three and then I blinked and I am the dad of three teenagers. They have gone from being totally dependent on me (and of course, their mom) to not wanting us to even know everything in their life. We knew every little detail and now they try to conceal. I suppose it is part of the growing up process. We, as parents, must learn to let go and let them make choices, even bad ones. Don't get me wrong. I still get on to them about not cleaning their rooms or about the way they are treating other people. I am still trying to guide them into adulthood, but as the light at the end of the tunnel of parenthood seems to draw nearer, I also realize that my advice will soon have to be kept to myself. I will have to wait and agonize as I watch them make mistakes I could have kept them from making. I will have to trust in God to keep them in His care. I can't be their protector forever.

And yet, I am struck by how much they know about God. They do not fully comprehend Him (Neither do I). I see them trying to learn to trust in Him, but being frustrated when things don't go the way they want it to. Then they blame God because He didn't answer in their way, in their time. Then it is my job to ask the hard questions. What would have happened if God would have answered in your way, in your time? Would the circumstances brought more glory to God or to you? When you told the story of what happened, would you have talked about your great prayer life? Or would you have told how God answered in a way that you never imagined?

We all could use those questions in our lives. God is our heavenly Father, and He wants us to trust in Him. He wants us to go to Him for advice and guidance. And, yet, He allows us to make foolish decisions and then waits for us to cry out to Him for help. Then, He picks us up, brushes us off, and gives us a hug. He takes us by the hand and begins to walk on the path He always wanted us to walk. Not that He was surprised by our mistakes. He knew we would make the wrong choice. No, I don't fully comprehend it, but I know this: God is sovereign. He is in control. And I am comforted by that thought.