My dad and I Christmas 1975
Today is a Christmas of firsts. It is the first Christmas in 3 years that we have celebrated in our own home. It is the first Christmas in 3 years that we have been able to put up the Christmas tree. It is also the first Christmas that I have not spent time talking to my dad.
On the corner of my desk is a digital picture frame that my dad gave me for Christmas in 2009. The picture frame is filled with photos from my childhood and life. Many of these pictures are from Christmas celebrations long gone. Pictures of my dad reading the story of Jesus’ birth from the Bible. Pictures of my first snare drum, a toy hook and ladder fire truck and all of us sitting around in our robes on Christmas morning. These cherished memories became the foundation for many of the Christmas traditions that my own family celebrates.
As I spoke of in my previous post, I felt a passing of the mantle when my dad died. For many months the Lord had been speaking to me about my role as a father to the generation that is following me. Although I was receiving this in a spiritual sense, I now see the literal reality of this as well.
Over the weekend I had the opportunity to take a road trip to Dallas with Rodney, my pastor at 4CI. A portion of our discussion dealt with that role of being a mentor to the next generation. Interestingly enough, this past week my daily time in the word took me into Paul’s words in Titus:
Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
(Titus 2:7-8 ESV)
On Saturday evening, we had our first Christmas open house in 3 years. During the open house, I was able to share at length about our journey with a handful of people. Once the majority of people had left we found ourselves in conversation with a couple that God had been placing on our hearts and young man who travels as the drummer for a Christian band. During our conversation we learned that God had been prompting each of us to pursue a deeper relationship with the others. We agreed to begin meeting regularly to share our lives and encourage one another.
As I look ahead, I see that I am being given the opportunity to pass on the wisdom and training that I received not only to my family, but to others God is placing in my life. The dynamics of my life and ministry continue to be redefined on a daily basis, but I find great joy in pressing forward.