Jump Start # 1002

Psalms 127:4-5 “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.”

Holiday Times. The excitement of Christmas changes as one gets older. As a child, it’s the presents. As one gets older, it’s being with family.

Our passage today speaks of the confidence and blessedness of children. A warrior with arrows in his hand could face the enemy. A warrior with arrows had courage and hope. A warrior with no weapon was in real trouble. His best hope would be to run. Children are like arrows in the warrior’s hand.

We hope this holiday season you will enjoy being with your family. Make some precious memories. Share some laughter. Worship together. Engage in deep conversation. Build bridges in relationships. Far too many families have heartache and dysfunction. Relationships are hard. All of us have a past and all of us have wounded others by sin. Grace and forgiveness often run thin at home. Sometimes it’s easier to be kind to a stranger than the very people that live under your roof.

Jesus told the disciples that they needed to become like children. There is an innocence about children. Children are curious. Another wonderful aspect about children is their ability to fuss at each other and then get over it. Kids will get mad at each other. They will say hurtful things. Yet within the hour they are back playing together. Adults can’t do that. We ought to, but we hold things, remember things, dwell on things too much. We analyze things, point fingers, find fault, add heaps of guilt and hold grudges. Now when all of this involves family, tension and ill feelings are certain to spring up. The solution to all of this? Be like Jesus. Forgive. Don’t tear down, build up. See the big picture.

Children are a blessing. Sometimes we forget. When you are in the middle of raising them, it’s easy to forget. The messes, the whining, the battles seem long and weary. Even in those days, what a blessing children are. I’m seeing all four of my kids in the next few days. Can’t wait. Miss them. Only one lives at home. The rest are hours away. They are busy in their world of careers, houses and family. I remember those days of going to the gym on Saturdays to watch the kids basketball games. Off to the school for a holiday concert they were in. Running here, going there. Busy, busy times. Good times. Tons of memories. I look at them now and see what a blessing they are.

Pray for your family. Times are tough. The battle is intense. Satan won’t quit. But greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world (1 Jn 4:4). Every older parent will tell you that you turn around and it goes by so fast. It does. It doesn’t seem like it when you are in the middle of things, but it does. I went down the toy isle of a store the other day. Wasn’t looking for anything. I just wanted to see what was out these days. I haven’t bought a toy in years. My kids are all big. There are some really cool toys now. I almost bought one just for me. I’m afraid if I did, that would give the rest of the family all they needed to send me to the home. Enjoy the holiday. Don’t fuss too much about messes. Sing some songs together. Watch some movies with each other. Love, laugh and remember what a blessing family is.

God is good.

Roger