The Father.5

"The Son can do nothing on his own, but does only what he sees the Father do." 

 --Jesus

Imitation, we are told, is the greatest form of flattery.

When my sons were young an elderly friend remarked that he loved his kids growing up but when they started having families of their own that's when he really started to enjoy them!

Now as we too enjoy our kids having kids, I often wonder what kind of influence

my wife and I have been on our children. What specifically are the things they have incorporated in their lifestyles of work, raising kids and loving their wives and neighbors that reflect their nurturing?

One very important aspect of their upbringing that is paying huge benefits today is that they were taught to obey. A helpful alliteration, Quickly, Cheerfully and Completely, set the level and quality of obedience we tried to strive for in their lives.

In the short run, insisting that our boys listened and did what we told them in this manner helped keep order in the house (eight active boys can create a LOT of chaos -- almost instantly -- believe me!) 

But more importantly, and its taken years to fully appreciate this, they learned to put into practice quickly what is required of them. This has served them very well in their employment. Business owners lament

that today's American youth are nearly unemployable: they have a difficult time connecting instructions with production; they lack initiative and need constant attention to keep them focused! Connecting what a boss wants done with a desire to get right to it, do it well and without complaining has helped our sons excel in their employment careers! (You're welcome, boys!)
  
So if you want to ensure a bright, productive, prosperous future for your children make sure they learn to obey!

MacDonald once observed that "to obey is to understand" and that is the law of the universe!

The ultimate example of child-like obedience is, of course, Jesus. At a profound moment in instructing his followers about the essentials of His Kingdom, Jesus took a child into His arms. This act quieted the raucous dispute and competitive positioning between men whose spiritual eyes were being turned toward eternal truth, but needed to learn that they would not be allowed to bring pervasive earthly ambitions of power and status with them!

Is there a better sign or symbol that sums up the rule of the Kingdom of God: Jesus, the King of Kings, taking a child in his arms saying that to receive the childlikeness of a child in His name is to receive the childhood character of the Lord of the Universe! The Heavenly King takes his subjects, those who have humbled themselves like a child to reflect a "radiant serenity of faith in His father", through whom grace and truth flow freely because they are like Him who is like His father!

How many of the difficulties in our life, that often spill over in disputes with others (including, sadly, other followers of Jesus), has to do with never having learned, like Jesus, to do what the Father wants us to do: with child-like cheerfulness, promptness and completeness?

Fear not for it's never too late to humble ourselves and become like children...like Jesus...like the Father.

Who knows, maybe your boss will even notice!

I'd like to think that in spite of a world in turmoil that daily offers evidence to the contrary, there is always hope for the future when we follow the Way of the Truth and the Life!