Actively Involved

This weekend we were honored to attend a sweet sixteen birthday party. Her and Randy are good friends at church and they actually play together in the band. As I watched her family at this party, I saw how actively involved they are in their daughter's life. It was a beautiful party and her parents made it so special for her. Her Dad brought her up on the stage and read to her Proverbs 31. He spoke to her about being a Godly woman and how she was worth more than jewels to him, her mother and to God. Then he proceded to give her a pearl set and they helped to place the ring, necklace and bracelet on her. This was for her to remember that she is a jewel in the eyes of God. It was an absolutely beautiful moment. He then took her by the hand, led her down the stage and onto the dance floor where he danced with his daughter to the song; you guessed it!, Butterfly Kisses! Actively Involved! I can't tell you how many times we tell our kids these words, "We're all up in your kool-aid!" It is a little joke around here now! But you know, it can be challenging to be actively involved in our kids lives. The older they get, the more "privacy" they think that they need. Each child is unique and has their own special gifts and talents that God has given them. As parents, we want to help our kids accomplish goals in their lives and we want to see them succeed. We model for them how to act and re-act. We teach them how to build relationships with God and with others. We try very hard to be careful to let them become the person that GOD has created them to be and not what WE want them to be! Most of us parents want to see all the good in our children and love them and spoil them rotten! Our kids may not agree with the "It hurts us more than it hurts them" mentality! It isn't easy to disipline our children when they need it and it is even difficult at times to know how to disipline them. To be actively involved in our children's lives is sometimes challenging due to many different factors. I struggle to be actively involved in my children's lives. I make mistakes in guiding my children. I do not know the best way to handle every situation. I do not know the end result. In our Bible study last week we looked at the word Providence. According the Harper's Bible Dictionary this is what it says: "God has a plan and purpose for his world. Providence is not a principle of orderliness or reason; rather, providence is the will of the creator who is actively involved in moving his creation to a goal. History is not a cyclical process of endless repetition; history is being moved toward the predetermined end." How does that speak to you? He is actively involved in every detail of our lives. He does not make mistakes. He always knows exactly what to do. He knows the end result. With everything that is happening around this world, it comforts me to know that He, the God of the Universe, is in control! He is actively involved! He loves his children and wants to spoil them rotten! He also, doesn't like to disipline his children, but it is for their own good, even though they can't grasp the mentality of, "This hurts me more than it hurts you!" He is all up in our Kool-aid! The thing that I love most of all; is that, just like our children bring us joy, we bring God joy! He created us for a purpose. With a goal. He wants us to reach the finish line! He gives us everything we need so that we can. He is actively involved in helping us reach the finish line.