Reminded by a Child...

On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to take Sammy, our 4 year old son to the hospital to give a blood sample. Now for those of you have done this with your children, you know the joy of holding your kid while they scream bloody murder (not very joyful). I so wish I had a camera to capture the faces of all those in the waiting room...it was shear panic and anticipation knowing they were next!

Let me get to the point of this story...
As we left the hospital, Sammy and I decided to begin walking down the street because Rachel was at JC Penney's doing some Mother's Day shopping. We called her and told her we would just meet her along the way. So here Sammy and I were walking down the street and talking. I am sure it was a quaint little picture...big ole daddy Ryan holding hands with his boy. As we walked, I began to tell Sammy how brave he was with the whole needle and blood giving opportunity. Its my desire as a father to build that bravery up in my sons. Sammy looked up at me and said, "Daddy, I wasn't brave." "Yes, son, you were very brave." "No dad, I wasn't brave...I cried." "Yes, Sammy, you were really brave." "Dad! I wasn't brave, the needle scared me." As this little conversation occurred, God's gentle voice began to speak to my heart...and the whisper said, "In your weakness, my strength is made perfect..." Then those brown eyes looked up at his daddy's and Sammy said, "But dad, it was okay because God helped me!"

Here I am, a 35 year old educated reverend, and my 4 year old was teaching me one of the mysteries of God! I reached down, picked him up, and began to share with him about how there are times when "brave old daddy" gets scared too. And when I get scared, I put my faith in God and know He will take care of me! What a tremendous training and teaching opportunity...the child teaching the father...

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (NIV)

Has your bravery left you? Are you in a situation or facing something which scares you? Learn from a child..."But dad, it was okay, because God helped me". Remember, God's power is made perfect in your weaknesses.

-Pastor Ryan