Originally Posted by Mike Young June 2005

Father’s Day is upon us. Most of you who read Noble Notes will be celebrated by your children in some form or fashion this weekend. Let me encourage you to spend some time pondering how your children fill your life.

Make a mental list of the things you have experienced in abundance with your children…

Perhaps you thought of hugs and smiles, some of you thought of bills and stress; don’t forget soccer practices, dance recitals, diapers, questions and boo-boos. The list could go on forever. I am hopeful that when your list is complete and you have considered the many ways your children fill your life, you can sum it all up, good and bad, with one word, joy. There are moments when Stacy and I stop to watch our children play, wrestle, learn, build, compete, perform or simply sleep. Our hearts swell with joy, pride and awe.

Sometimes in these moments, I whisper quietly, “We have this treasure in jars of clay…”

This phrase is from 2 Corinthians 4:7, here Paul says, But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. In this passage, Paul is referring to the fact that God has chosen simple, breakable jars of clay (humans) to carry his treasure (the good news of salvation). Although my reference to this verse is a bit out of context, I think you will agree that God has done an awesome work in packaging the treasure of a child’s heart in a small human body. I marvel at His greatness.

Think about the little jars of clay at your house…

• Do you treasure them? Do you sense that they are a gift from God?
• Do you appreciate the significance of your role in shaping them for the future?
• Have you planned strategies to help them grow mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually?
• Are you helping them to develop skills, abilities, talents, and character traits that will serve them well, long after your influence is less than it is now?
• They will one day make decisions on their own, are you preparing them to do so wisely?
• Are you leading and shaping them spiritually?

These are tough questions. But, if the questions aren’t asked, the answers will never be considered. Here’s another question. When you put them to bed tonight ask them… “Do you know that I Love you and I’m proud of you?” Then, ask them… “How do you know?” You may get some answers that will help you shape your priorities.

We have a sacred responsibility, to take them from childhood to adulthood. The neat thing is that we don’t have to be task masters in the process. We can, and should, have a significant measure of fun along the way. Certainly there have been and will be difficult stages. I am prayerful, however, that the prevailing emotion throughout the process will be joy.

The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him. May your father and mother be glad; may she who gave you birth rejoice? Proverbs 23:24-25