June is a month of good things, isn’t it? Completion of the school year! For some families, celebrating completion of 12 school years or the college years. It surely is a whole family achievement!
For all (I hope), celebrating the “dads” who’ve impacted our lives and seen us through the skinned knees, the bruised hearts, the driving lessons, and the other fits and starts of early adulthood. I include on my list the men in our family who became dads to the next generation.
This week I am remembering fondly my grandfathers, my dad, my husband, and my brother and brother-in-law. Of those six men, there is not a lot of similarity in their parenting or “brothering” though my life carries the impact of each man’s words and actions, and I thank God for each of them.
This Sunday, as a church family, we have the privilege of celebrating with a few families as we participate with them in child dedications – parents making a commitment to raise their child or children in the ways of the Lord. I’ve heard more than once, that this is really parent dedication. Committing to be intentional, as parents, about how we raise the children we’ve been entrusted with, in the Lord’s strength and His gentle love, toward each child’s own personal decision to follow Jesus as their Savior.
It seems to also be church family dedication. As a congregation, we have the great privilege and responsibility to come alongside these parents in encouraging and helpful ways. My family has been blessed beyond measure by God’s servants at our church who have come alongside us with gracious help, thoughtful words, good humor, and sometimes a shoulder to lean on.
Scripture does not leave us adrift on family life …
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22.6
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (for this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6.1-4
When I need a refresher on doing life as a family following Jesus, my heart is always encouraged (and convicted!) by the words the Apostle Paul wrote to the church-plant in Ephesus. Click below to read Ephesians 5 and 6.
May you be blessed and be a blessing to others in this season of life with our Lord!
Blessings, Colleen