One of my sons turns 14 today. Benjamin came into this world at 4 pounds, 15 ounces; he is now a healthy, growing teenage boy with a tender heart for God and a heart for the underdog. He is always looking out for kids who need a friend. Through the years, there have been several situations at school and in the neighborhood in which he has instinctively defended the friendless.
His name in Hebrew means, "Son of my Right Hand." That means that he is also my warrior son, a strong arrow in my quiver.
I affirm this work of God in his life and I give thanks to God for entrusting me as one of his primary caretakers in life. If I was writing this blog post last September or December, or even this March, I would think about my other three children and affirm the work of God in their lives. Or I would affirm the work of God in my wife, who celebrated her birthday a few days ago.
Birthdays are affirmations. They remind us that every year is a precious gift from God. Every relationship is worth nurturing and appreciating, because you never know when it will end.
As a pastor, it seems the care list in my congregation is growing longer and longer. There are older folks who are growing more frail and sick, but there are also several young people who have been killed or at least died this year, long before their time. While I am obviously saddened by losing friends and brothers and sisters in Christ, their deaths and circumstances have also encouraged me to appreciate the moments I have with my wife and children.
They are a gift.
In the Sunday School class that I teach, we are working our way through a powerful poem called The Dash. It invites us to consider how well we spend "the dash" (on our tombstones) between the day we are born and the day we die. The Dash, the poet writes, represents how we love and live our lives.
Today, my son's birthday reminds me to love the gift of today and celebrate the gift of life and family that God has given us.
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