My Father's Voice

As I reflect upon my life’s journey I remember a small white house next door to the church where my father preached in Carlsbad, New Mexico. It was there I first heard my father’s voice. A voice of love, compassion, humor and instruction. Though out the years my brothers and I listened to the voice of my father has be gave us instruction about how to be a pleasing son, a faithful Christian, a faithful and loving husband and father. The instruction we received was not so much the kind you get around the kitchen table although there was plenty of those occasions. The instruction we received from my father was given to us as we experienced life with my father and mother.

You would be surprised how many lessons about life you can receive by doing yard work or working in a vegetable garden or spending time on the lake fishing. Everyday chores and activities were opportunities to teach and shape the lives of my brothers and me. We also had a front row seat as we witnessed my mother and father ministering to soldiers going off to war or helping families who needed food and comfort. The lessons of life were everywhere around us and my parents made sure that their three sons learned them well.

That process has been the formula for raising faith children through out the ages. The process of fathers and mothers consistently living out their faith in front of their children and teaching them to seek out, listen to, and follow the voice of God. Deuteronomy 6:4 reads, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commands that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

So for those who are parents, grandparents, guardians, or anyone who has children in their care, you are to be the voice of God who teaches and shapes the lives of the children given to you by God. Live out your faith in real and meaningful ways on a daily basis. Be intentional in your daily walk with God as you witness to your family that your faith is real and alive and active.

Help your children to discover that there is only One Voice that has been there from the very beginning of time. One Voice who knows you better than anyone and One Voice who loves you more than you will ever know. This Voice promises hope, acceptance, mercy, grace and love now and forever.

Love God. Go Love Others.