How many of you read the last blog about parenthood and thought “What does Noah’s father do?” Here is my response.
There are three great professions in this world, the first two: following God and parenthood –they have their impact not only on day to day events but also the future. The third, everything else, is really about today and not so much about the future as we like to think.
Following God was in the past, prior to the new covenant, a master-servant relationship. After the new covenant (the crucifixion of Christ), it became a father-son relationship. It works for a multiple of reasons. First, we choose willingly, not out of fear, to follow Christ. Second, there is a leader, a final judge, an authority, and an example to follow. Because we have choice this is a mute point when we choose to follow. It, however, becomes an important point if we choose not to follow and/or in times of stress or uncertainty. One could say, not in a negative light, that it is not a democracy. What would morality be if it was a consensus and not an absolute?
Christ gave many examples to follow; the greatest of these was Love. But he not only asks us to follow Him but also to lead others. “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the Church”. Ephesians 5:22-23.
I am a Christian and I love my wife dearly. Our relationship is one we choose to be in everyday and we make mutual decisions. But not everything is mutual. In times of uncertainty and/or stress, such as a child crying, a dirty diaper and or a child waking up during the night, success is not so much dependant on a working relationship as much as leadership.
It is during these times, I the husband, humbly and willingly accept my role. So when Noah is hungry, wet, or smells, I tell his mother. And when Noah wakes up during the night, I wake up too . . . to wake up his mother.
Remember I was born this way.
God Bless
P.S. As a father, I worry about Noah too, about his future, his health and his opportunities. His cuts, bumps and bruises are meant to be toughening him up. And picking up things off the ground and putting them in his mouth . . . well can you say welcome to the Boy’s Club!
HA!!! Thank God we really know the truth and that you Fred are Champion diaper changer and could really teach fathers the organizational methods for changing diapers!! LOL!
A Praise Report… I got a job. I am the Business Manager for St. Joseph Academy in Walton. It is a great fit and a place where living out the Gospel will come easy.
Our small group ends this Tuesday. We will start a new small group at our house for the Florence Campus again. This is after a year down in Newport.
Chuck is doing well at HD…
Dogs are doing well.
We continue to pray for your last few months in Switzerland. That you finish well and leave as a “diffuser of the fragrance of God.” We continue to pray for your transition and traveling to Togo and that Jehovah Niecie (? on sp) would be That Banner that will Go before you in Togo! That the Lord will give you the discernment to know which road to take in your care for each other and Noah as well as your care for the people and staff. God is BIG!! Much bigger than we can fathom. Enjoy your time as the best is yet to come.
Love you all.
Anne and Chuck
To two wonderful parents with a wonderful son,
Had a wonderful visit with your Grandmother, Mother, Susanna, Shepherd and Micah. Your Grandmother was better and talking about planting tomatoes. lol ….a real fighter.
Praying that your final days in language study will be very productive and your trip home will go smoothly.
Love you all. Aunt E
Smile, Lydia, do you ever get a full night’s rest? Hope language study is getting better and frustration is getting “lesser”. Remember, you will continue to learn on the field. I remember my first year of teaching in DRC. Praise the Lord there was a student who knew French better than I did, and she would fill in the word when I couldn’t bring it to mind. I was there to teach her nursing and she helped me learn French. Enjoy ever day in Switzerland. It’s beautiful. God Bless, Margie
Fred, I’m so glad to see that you are not afraid to print the truth of men vs women as nuturers! So much for the psycologists and others who say that “men and women/boys and girls” are all equal!