Do Your Children and Grandchildren Know…

When my Grandma McAboy came to visit, she would often stay for a few days at a time.  One night as I was falling asleep, I heard her in her room talking. After a minute or two I realized she was praying, and after another moment I realized she was praying for me. Grandma McAboy was lifting me to our Father above.  

In my eyes Grandma McAboy was perfect. She was kind and helpful and hugged me close and never raised her voice to me. But as I grew older, and I heard the stories again this time with the ears of an adult, I learned that there were hard times. There were imperfections; there were difficult decisions.  

Parents and grandparents, do your children know of the times you moved forward in faith even as earthly circumstances didn’t seem to be working out? Have they heard how you were scared, didn’t know what to? Of the times you weren’t sure where the money would come from, not sure the illness would heal?  The times you stood at the door, crying, trembling with shaking hands and hammered the nail in the door anyway? Do they know that God works all things together for good for those who love Him?  

Children, do your grandparents and parents know of the decisions you’re making even now, that when the time comes to put a nail in the door, to follow God’s call, you will take the opportunity? When God shows you the injustice in this world, you plan to put yourself between the offender and the victims. You’ve decided to stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves. The same spirit-led courage which allowed Martin Luther to act is available to you.  Martin Luther stood up for what was right, and he had no idea what would happen next.  

When our children face hard times, they need to hear from us that there’s more to the story.   They need to know their mistakes are not fatal, and that God’s love is unconditional.  Let’s remind them that God is not finished yet.  

Together,

Tim McAboy

Head of School

tmcaboy@zcs.org