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Tea Time Tuesday
The first moment I held Sarah, my oldest child in my arms, I knew that she was a treasure from God — a real live human being He had entrusted into my arms, my life, to steward for His glory. Somehow I knew that He was entrusting me (and Clay) to pass on a legacy of faith, truth, love, virtue in all the ways we could imagine so that our own dear one would understand and live in the love and goodness of God.
The glory of God through me as I am fully alive in His love, reflecting His grace in all the ways I live. After giving all that I could to my own four children, I understand that now I get to manifest Him to my grands as a part of my design as a “life giver.”
I consider the wonder of my grandchildren, full of life, fun, running toward me when I come to visit. All of my grandchildren, must behold the glory of God in ways that I love them: kissing their sweet heads, pretending with them, listening to their questions, and engaging in real conversation. I live the beauty of Christ in front of them, given intentionally. My giving is amidst hundreds of normal, daily moments from serving meals, putting together a puzzle, giving a good night blessing, telling stories that bring giggles or inspire. These are given in the rough and tumble of life. Impactful moments come with no great spiritual announcement that says, “This is a very spiritual moment.” Spiritual influence comes hidden in daily life, whether with a child or grandchild.
Clay wrote in The Lifegiving Parent:
“If lifegiving parenting is about giving our children real life in God so they can be fully alive in Him, then, someone’s got to give. That transfer of the life of God to our children does not happen just by good intent or by accident. It happens for one reason only — because we decide that we are the people to give. Not another person, group, or church; not an organization, resource, or influence, but us. We are the lifegivers. We are the ones who will give the life of God to our children. When we can get our heads, hearts, and hands firmly around that reality, we’ll be on the path to become the lifegiving parents God designed us to be.”
More on today’s new podcast.