"Safe Harbor's" Daily Inspiration

"The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness,
Prepare ye the way of the LORD,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God."
Isaiah 40:3

Packing For Life

It has become that time of the year once again,
where many parents will be sending children off to camp.
This verse of Scripture brings comfort
through the trust we have in our Lord as we send them off.

We want to send our children off to camp in the same
way we send them out into the world . . .
with solid gold values that cannot be destroyed!
We don't just shove them out the door empty-handed
with a cheery admonition to
"have a great time!"

We send them off prepared!
We fill a suitcase or duffel bag with all the things
they'll need to survive and enjoy the experience.
And when we're not quite sure what to pack,
we consult other parent's and camp counselors.
Since we won't be with them,
we want them to know they're leaving us with
everything they need firmly in hand
for the entire time they are away.

This somewhat defines what parenting is all about!
We pack up our children to head for Life!
During the 18 or 20 years they'll live under our roof,
our task is to equip them with all they'll need
to go on as God's people
through the rest of their lives, without us constantly
at their side.
That means without our dollars, our direction,
our discipline, or our devotion to God.

In packing for Life, forgetting to instill an essential
godly quality can have devastating consequences.
Not knowing how to handle money can lead to
financial ruin.
Not being able to establish a loving relationship
can bring them to divorce.
Not discovering God for themselves
can leave them spiritually empty and lost.

How much more acceptable it is for them if
we allow them to inherit these responsibilities
a little at a time, while living with us,
not dumping them on them all at once when they
are out of our home for good!

And how comforting if we strengthen them to
carry those responsibilities,
cheering them on with encouragement
that's based in reality on God's Word!