Raising Babies
I raised 3 children to the best of my ability. After several years of criticism, bantering, discouragement an wondering IF I did, I can say...I did. I was not an absentee father, nor was a bad husband. About 5 years however I went through a relatively easy divorce. Many years before that I experienced alot of problems with my children. My "in-laws" were heavily involved and my wife listened to them rather than her husband. Disorder. My family was rather un-involved...I thought. I realized my father stayed distant from the circumstances, but my mother was quite another story. Around the time of my divorce my mom told me my oldest (son) called her at about 5 yrs old and said to her, "you need to come up here and do something with your son". My mom would talk with my wife before and after the divorce which rendered her unhelpful, a double agent and untrustworthy. Disorder. I trusted someone...actually more than "one", a pastor was involved and the last dealing with him was when he got up and left me sitting there with his final comment to me of, "I guess I've never been hurt that bad" and the others with the knowledge there was gossip between them..."religious", "leaders", who may now hold my grown children captive, BUT " Here is Adonai's answer: Even a warrior's captives will be snatched away, and the booty of the fearful will be freed". (Is 49:25 CJB) When order will be re-established.
When I was a young man, I didn't do everything "right" or according to the "religiousness" of the church, the "leaders" or those who speak as though they have raised children before you, me and who take over the reigns of parenthood without permission or invitation. Disorder. A sad thing that happens in families is when others, be it in-laws, parentals, grands, aunts, uncles, or "well-meaning" others get involved without permission or invitation can cause a great deal of disorder in everyone's lives. Confusion and Disorder. The child(ren) don't know who's who in the relationships and they cannot differentiate between "their" father and another male and the same is true with mother and females. The child(ren) need to KNOW who is who. Fathers need to know THEY are fathers and they need to be allowed to BE...father. Mothers need to know THEY are mothers and they need to be allowed to BE...mother. That said, one thing I never did was "share" my babies with others. I did not give my child(ren) to others when "I" couldn't get them to sleep or when they would just cry. I literally jumped over people who were holding MY child to get them, so I could comfort them, protect them, pray for them and hold them. Believe it or not, there IS order there, but there is no order if others do not call for YOU to take care of YOUR child(ren) or if they assume the other things that are YOURS to BE and DO for your child(ren) upon themselves...unless you have given them permission. That should only be done limitedly however and when you...parent...are with your child(ren), you should make every effort to BE...YOUR child(ren)s parent.
Fathers are to shoot their arrows (children) like a marksman into their future. Fathers are the farmers who planted the seed. Fathers should know what seed they planted, whether it will be corn, okra, a tree, or in other words, what crop will be. Fathers should seek the One who planted them in the earth and knit them together in their mothers womb. They should also seek the shelter and instruction of a father and in the times we are in right now to seek out their own father if possible. There should be forgiveness, restitution, re-connection to THEIR father. The book of the prophet Joel says, HE would return the heart of the children to THEIR fathers and the heart of THEIR fathers to THEIR children. If it were written almost any other way, we could leave in the separation of 'spiritual fathers' and 'biological fathers', but it is directed at the biological fathers who by this time should be able to spiritually instruct, guide and love their child(ren). Even "spiritual fathers" should encourage their "spiritual sons/daughters" to reconnect with THEIR "biological fathers" if possible. I am telling you men, their is a whole lot more to fathering than having sex with a female, her conceiving, her carrying the baby till delivery, her delivering YOUR baby and then making sure it is fed, clothed, diapers changed, bathed, educated...IN GOD and go toward maturity...IN GOD. After all their greatest destiny/purpose, pursuits will BE...IN GOD, because remember, it is HE who formed them and you. To the fathers who are not yet "spiritual" or not given your life to Christ, I encourage you to do so, so you can give yourself and your child(ren)...more...and your children's children. To the sons who have not yet given their hearts to Christ, I encourage you to do so and turn back to YOUR fathers or if you have, to re-connect and forgive your father. There is a great deal of healing in repentance. I say to everyone reading this. Repentance is, "to make a willing purpose to AMEND and turn from sin", so there should be an amending, even if the amending is your forgiveness toward them and to receive the Love and/or Give the love...of God.
Love is the answer, Repentance is the call and Forgiveness is the reality of the authority of Jesus Christ in our lives.
Fathers, Sons, Daughters, it is time to rise up, BE forgiven, BE repentant and BE Love(ed). Rise Up!!
