The Heart of a Father

I believe that the reason why children are a reward from God is because children help us to experientially know the heart of Father God like no other parable can.

Having children is compared to arrows in the hand of a warrior (Psalm 127.4). When you send an arrow out to hit its mark, you release it, and you need to let go of it in order for it to fly towards its intended target. Continuing the parable of life to enable you to know the heart of God better, after you send out your arrows, it is you and your bride or bridegroom again.

The same is true spiritually. You are given spiritual children that you help along life’s road too. Training both your physical and your spiritual children helps you to know the heart of God better. You stay connected to the Lord by seeking Him as you seek to train those that are under your care.

For example, God’s desire is to give us, His children, His power to work within us, and to do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]... God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others  (2 Cor 9.8 NLT).

As parents, having been freely loved, we are free to love.[i] Having been forgiven much, we are free to forgive.[ii] Having learned to follow, we are equipped to lead.[iii] Having been given things so freely, we are free to give.[iv] We are ready to look out not only for ourselves, but also for the good of others,[v] as we sacrificially demonstrate the love that God has for us.[vi]

When you release both your physical or spiritual children, you release them into the hands of God. You may see your arrows hit their mark. You may experience the heart of the Father of the prodigal son as you watch wayward children make mistakes and go down wrong roads. Through it all, you depend upon the Lord and the parable of your life spurs you to connect and relate to your Lord even more as you trust Him with the welfare of your most loved possessions.

That is why no matter what you sacrifice to raise children, they always give more back to you, because they compel you to know the heart of God in an unselfish way that only a parent can know. You begin to see that Human life is as short-lived as grass… (Psalm 103.15), …but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever. (1 John 2.17) God has put a sense of eternity in people’s minds (Ecclesiastes 3.11).  And this is the real and eternal life: That [we] know… [t]he one and only true God, [a]nd Jesus Christ… (John 17.3)

Don’t let the wise brag of their wisdom. Don’t let heroes brag of their exploits. Don’t let the rich brag of their riches. If you brag, brag of this and this only: That you understand and know me. I’m GOD, and I act in loyal love. I do what’s right and set things right and fair, and delight in those who do the same things. These are my trademarks. (Jeremiah 9.23-24 MSG)

Excerpt from soon to be released book, How to Build Children With Integrity, by Karen Budzinski, © WestBow Press and Karen Budzinski.

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[i] 1 John 4

[ii] Ephesians 4.32; Colossians 3.13; Matthew 18.21-35

[iii] 1 Corinthians 11.1

[iv] Matthew 10.8

[v] Philippians 2.4

[vi] John 3.16; Romans 8.32

A Tribute to my Daddy...

To My Daddy

Father’s Day, 2011

God speaks to us in parables,

So we learn of Him, it’s true.

And when God calls Himself my Father

I can understand because of you.

As a little girl, I remember being in awe:

Your power and strength was easy to see

I couldn’t wait for when you came from work to home

Because you lived for your family.

We knew that when you came through the door

That you were exactly where you wanted to be.

You kicked in - doing whatever it took

Investing 200% energy.

We all remember how much you did

Working yourself to the bone!

Inexhaustibly you fixed things, played with us and cleaned

Making sure that everything got done.

Winter picnics, ice rinks, lists and games

Everything together as a team with heart.

You taught us that work or play, whatever the season,

Our value together was far greater than apart.

We went through frustrations and learned how to deal

With different personalities and thoughts and trends.

We learned the value of family by all chipping in –

The value of relationships that will never end.

Traditions and values, with joy and through pain

You sacrificed task after task.

No matter how you felt, busy morning til night –

The hardest thing to do was relax!!!

You may not remember the countless things you you’ve done

Showing us how only an amazing Dad can love

It was minute by minute the way that you lived

That showed us love on earth AND from above.

The greatest things your life taught me about the love of a Father – both from you AND from my Heavenly Father:

1. That my Father loves and cherishes me for who I am despite who I am

and who I am not; and my Father delights in me!!!

2. That my Father wants to be involved with my life, even at times where I

am not giving him all the attention!

3. That my Father gives me all his resources of time, talents and money,

without reservation, freely and without expectation, only hoping that

I will use them for my good and to better my life and achieve my goals.

4. That my Father sacrificed to give me a family to buffet the storms and

enhance the joys of life.

5. That my Father made sure I knew I am a significant part of our family for a

particular purpose, and that my role is important and cannot be filled by

any other person.

6. That my Father is interested and proud of what I do, regardless of whether

those things changed year to year; he was a 100% participant in the things

I was enthusiastic about.

7. That my Father wants me to make decisions responsibly, because they

affect not just me but my entire family.

8. That my Father wanted me to learn from my mistakes for one reason: so

I wouldn’t repeat them and get hurt again.

9. That my Father’s plans for me were always for my good and never for

his gain.

10. That my Dad would do anything to prevent me from pain or from making

a mistake if he could, and that he felt every pain I felt.