Father to Son; Appa to Jaden
Jaden, son you’ll be seven tomorrow. I know you’re excited about your party and your friends coming over, and so you probably won’t have the time or the inclination to listen to what I have to say. So I’m writing this to you. Take your time, read it when you can, and when you understand.
Son, when our father in heaven decided to have Amma as your mom and me as your dad, what he did was bless us with the greatest privilege ever. You’ve no idea what an absolute privilege it has been for me to be your dad. Even though your mom probably was the beginning to my journey of self-sacrifice, you have enabled me to take leaps in that journey. I know now what it is like to step outside of myself and let me be. Sure, I know this is still the beginning, ‘cos our heavenly father wants us to make sacrifices for those that don’t deserve it, like he did for us on the cross of Calvary. Yet you’ve made that understanding real to me. It is no longer a theorized fantasy in my head. You’ve helped me know it can be a practice.
Son, you mean so much I don’t know how to write it down. Now I am not saying you can never be exasperating. At times you are, especially when you repeat what you want a million times and break me down to a level where I have to hiss a ‘yes’ as an escape. Sure, there are times when you whine, and I just wish you grow up and learn what it is to live with disappointments. Yet amidst all that, I know there will come a time when I will miss everything you do now. Yeah, that includes your persistent asking, even your whining. When that happens I’ve no idea how I’ll cope. I know the Lord will still be around as a comfort, but maybe you won’t, and that I know will hurt.
Son, I am not saying I will ever be the perfect Appa. I can’t and I probably won’t. If you’re seeking after perfection you’ll have to hold on to your heavenly father. But I promise I will do my best to keep my prejudices away from you. I will strive like I’ve never done until now so you don’t share in my cynical ways. Sure, I’ll try and point out to you the devious designs of the world, but in that too I will do it in a way so you know our heavenly father is always in charge, which means you won’t have to worry.
I surely have expectations of you, that I believe are legitimate. That you will respect women and treat them with dignity, that you will stand up for what is right even if it means losing the battle, that you will work hard, that you will keep your word, and so on. But note, there’s nothing more important to me than you being upright in everything you do, and that you walk in the ways of those who have walked before, blameless in the sight of our heavenly father. That is all that I expect of you.
Son, as you get to your seventh birthday know that you are loved, and loved much.
Happy Birthday (on the 14th).
Son, when our father in heaven decided to have Amma as your mom and me as your dad, what he did was bless us with the greatest privilege ever. You’ve no idea what an absolute privilege it has been for me to be your dad. Even though your mom probably was the beginning to my journey of self-sacrifice, you have enabled me to take leaps in that journey. I know now what it is like to step outside of myself and let me be. Sure, I know this is still the beginning, ‘cos our heavenly father wants us to make sacrifices for those that don’t deserve it, like he did for us on the cross of Calvary. Yet you’ve made that understanding real to me. It is no longer a theorized fantasy in my head. You’ve helped me know it can be a practice.
Son, you mean so much I don’t know how to write it down. Now I am not saying you can never be exasperating. At times you are, especially when you repeat what you want a million times and break me down to a level where I have to hiss a ‘yes’ as an escape. Sure, there are times when you whine, and I just wish you grow up and learn what it is to live with disappointments. Yet amidst all that, I know there will come a time when I will miss everything you do now. Yeah, that includes your persistent asking, even your whining. When that happens I’ve no idea how I’ll cope. I know the Lord will still be around as a comfort, but maybe you won’t, and that I know will hurt.
Son, I am not saying I will ever be the perfect Appa. I can’t and I probably won’t. If you’re seeking after perfection you’ll have to hold on to your heavenly father. But I promise I will do my best to keep my prejudices away from you. I will strive like I’ve never done until now so you don’t share in my cynical ways. Sure, I’ll try and point out to you the devious designs of the world, but in that too I will do it in a way so you know our heavenly father is always in charge, which means you won’t have to worry.
I surely have expectations of you, that I believe are legitimate. That you will respect women and treat them with dignity, that you will stand up for what is right even if it means losing the battle, that you will work hard, that you will keep your word, and so on. But note, there’s nothing more important to me than you being upright in everything you do, and that you walk in the ways of those who have walked before, blameless in the sight of our heavenly father. That is all that I expect of you.
Son, as you get to your seventh birthday know that you are loved, and loved much.
Happy Birthday (on the 14th).
Comments