Labor of Love

Micah 4:11-12 “But for now, they’re ganged up against you, many godless people, saying, ‘Kick her when she is down! Violate her! We want to see Zion grovel in the dirt.’ These blasphemers have no idea what God is thinking and doing in this. They don’t know that this is the making of God’s people, that thy are wheat being threshed, gold being refined.” 

Life can be so cruel and unjust. As I sit here to write, I open my computer to the picture of my smiling children. Just a day ago one of the worst tragedies involving my children happened to me. 
Over the past almost five years my former wife accused me of such wickedness dragging me through court. As a result she asked a forth judge to remove all parental rights from me where I would never again see them or talk to them until they became adults. The worst was when I heard a judge grant her wish and further it with his mocking of my relationship with them. 

Five years. It is my labor of love. It brings me to tears as both of my dreams were stolen from me. It was first my marriage and now my kids. The two things God gave and the two things the enemy stole from me. 

As I sit looking at the pictures of my kids and listing to music, I ask God let them see You in me. When they see me may they see You.  

Yet through this tragedy I ask the same thing in each day until that day of restoration happens. Two weeks ago, at church, a guest pastor came and spoke about us being an impact on the children around us. Maybe it is the children under our roof. Maybe it is the children who may not be ours, a step child, a neighbor kid, a niece or nephew. 

So as I wait I remain resolved until that day of restoration. I stand taking the opportunity to bless my nephews, my nieces, their kids and yes even my soon to be step children. As I open up in love, but with caution I realize something. I find God’s love pouring over a broken man who has felt defeated as a father through these children. It is their words of encouragement, desire to stand by my side and just say “hey I love you” with their hug.

The most encouraging word that was given to was from my fiancée’s daughter. She said, “Everyone wants a little happiness, no one wants pain, but you can’t have a rainbow without a little rain” capped off with an I love you.” 

What happens though when we feel we have been kicked when we are down? Do we give up on God or do we trust His better plan when nothing makes sense and the false accusations go flying? Are we willing to allow God refine us when we are in the waiting room of reconciliation?  

Just before I went to court to get the wind knocked out of me I heard a song I had only heard once before which has been my prayer for the year. In JJ Weeks song “Let Them See You” they sing a prayer of how we need to see our situations, how we see our kids and how we see our marriages. 

The chorus says: 
“Let them see You in me.
Let them hear You when I speak
Let them feel you when I sing
Let them see You in me” 

We need to have the prayer that God will still be glorified in our lives at all times regardless the situation. Are we willing to stand when the walls around us are falling? Are we willing to see God be glorified? Are we willing to let our children, grandchildren, spouse, neighbors, friends and co-workers see Christ in us? You may be the only Jesus they may see. 

Will I be reconciled with my four children? I know that it will happen, but I don’t know how. The reality is they are God’s children. Just as God gave me four of my own children He also gave me four children that are not my birth children. All I say is God, let them see You in me. 

Court, Kay, Nos and Jay, you are a gift from God. You are my drive and my love. And to the other four children so close in my life, you too are God’s gift and blessing in my life.

CAL