Take Two Aspirin

I’ll bet the grandparents of every generation as far back as you wish to think has said, “We’re glad we don’t have to raise children in this world today.” But on and on the cycle of birth to death continues without fear of the future and the world a newborn will have to live in twenty years down the road. My son called the other day with the awaited news of the birth of his third child. For the third time he was filled with awe and crying in joy, exclaiming how blessed his life is. This birth was an awesome blessing for from conception he and his wife felt this would be their last child and wanted so much for this one to be a girl. I guess you could call me sentimental, but I just think it’s great when a father has a son and a mother has a daughter to nurture and relate to, because it’s kind of like getting to grow up all over again. Well, like I said, this pregnancy was special and from the beginning they vowed to not peek and leave it up to God the sex of the child. Prayer is powerful and prayers do get answered in faith. They have a baby girl.
Like I said, I wouldn’t want to try raising children in the world of today. But in some ways raising them never changes. You spend the first two years teaching them to walk and talk, then spend the next sixteen telling them to sit down and be quiet. Your children will seldom misquote you. In fact, they generally repeat word for word the things you should never have said. You must have at least one children’s party in your home just to prove to yourself that there are children more terrible than your own. If you can retain your sanity, God will bless you with grandchildren to spoil and send home pumped up on sugar and stories about their parents when they were kids. Just a little friendly advise though. Be nice to your kids because one day they may be choosing a nursing home for you. If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give your children wisdom and they haven’t taken it, don’t be hard on yourself. If God had trouble raising children, what makes you think it will be a piece of cake for you? Disobedience is nothing new. And finally, if you have a lot of tension and often have a headache, do what it says on the aspirin bottle. “Take two aspirin” and “Keep away from children.”
[Proverbs 22: 6] The birth of a child is a wonderful and awesome experience and the day that child takes charge of their future in a meaningful and rational way is a reward greater than any trophy on the mantel. My daughter refused to enter any higher education institution until she was ready and had a purpose to do so. Now a paralegal, working at a satisfying career, she’s fulfilling her need to help others. My son has the intelligence and charisma to be anybody he wants to be. Several times he has escaped the tempters snare, as he was lured into business deals only to find deceit and greed of which he wanted nothing to do with, because he knows where it leads. Another daughter simply loves being a wife and a mother. She works an office job, but lives her family. All of them and their spouses are God fearing and richly blessed by God, but not all are worshipful to the one who blesses them. In the world today too many point the finger and say, “I’m more righteous than they” and come away with a feeling of being saved. Not so, according to God’s word. As we work out our own career to our satisfaction we also must work out our own salvation to God’s satisfaction (Philippians 2: 12-13). Teach by example. Get up! Get dressed! Go to worship! Thank God for the blessings of life!