An Easter Sermon By An 8-Year Old

I got back in town last night after my kids were in bed asleep, so I didn’t get to see them on Easter (but seeing them sleeping was priceless).  On the counter I found a drawing my 8-year old Brendan had drawn, as well as a page he had written for Easter.  I thought it was a great easter sermon and I thought I’d share it with you (including the pic!):

I would like to tell you about one of my best heroes.  His name is God.  One night I got a sore and I told my mom and then God healed my back.  God also died on the cross for us.  He is loving, helpful, kind.  God is so awesome and really really cool.  God never ever lies.  God helps a lot of people.  God is perfect and wonderful.  God came to earth for us.  God is so nice and powerful and He is looking out for you and me.  God gave me the courage to learn how to skate and ice skate.  I will always keep God as my number one hero.

As a dad, that blesses me more than I convey in a blog post.  I pray God uses me to help that last line come true for my son.  I want him to see the goodness of God, to see that despite the depravity the world (and we ourselves) may fall victim to, the beauty of God reigns supreme.  May I have the simple, yet powerful faith like a child.

 

Confession…

I have a confession to make…

the responsibility of being a parent scares the HECK out of me!

You all know the Proverb that says “train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old and he will not depart from it…”   Have you ever had the thought… “what if I train them in the WRONG things????”

I’m nearly 8 years into this thing called parenting (I know that’s not that much but it’s a lot for me) and I realize every day that I know jack squat.  I’ve read parenting books, attended a parenting class, etc.  I feel like I’m at square one.

Here’s the good news:  last year my son made a commitment to become a follower of Jesus.  At that point I became simply his guardian and guide.  The truth is, he has the Holy Spirit living inside him, guiding him.  Does that mean he’ll always make the right decisions?  No, do you and I?  But it means God is looking out for him, and I count it pure joy to be Brendan and Brayden’s daddy.  Best blessing of my life.

It’s scary.  It’s nervewracking.  I want them to grow up with the right values, to love others and God above themselves.  To love serving others more than getting cool gifts at Christmas.  To love their wives as Christ loved the Church.  Huge responsibility, being their dad… scary!  I don’t want to realize 10 years from now I made some serious mistakes… a scary scary journey…

But, the greatest journey in the world!

I’d love to hear your thoughts!