The Godfather

1 Timothy 5: 1-2 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.

One of my all-time favorite movies is The Godfather. I really enjoy the acting, the drama, and the intrigue presented in the plot lines. While there are two sequels, the original is still the best. There are some many great quotes that are now part of our modern vocabulary. The counterpoint to this whole movie is the term Godfather (head of a mafia crime family) is also applied to the male sponsor of a child being baptized. The irony there is pretty thick.

Why do you suppose the concept of a “Godfather,” as it applies to baptizing children was used?  I have given this some thought over time. I know that my Godfather was not the head of an organized crime family. He was an uncle of my mother’s side of the family.  And he was also involved in my spiritual life, even though he lived many miles away.  A Godfather, or Godmother should be involved in the spiritual life of a child they sponsor.  There is a reason for this that is quite simple. They are there to hold the parents, and the child accountable and to foster spiritual growth of the child.  If the parents are unable, or unwilling, to fulfill the promises made during the baptism ceremony, the Godfather or Godmother is there to help. Help can come in the form of encouraging the parents to be involved. Help can also come in the form of being the person fostering that development by direct involvement in the spiritual growth of a child. We, at Grace Lutheran, have several people who are stepping in when the parents are choosing to not be involved.  The importance of the task committed to as sponsors is HUGE. To not foster the child’s spiritual growth is just plain wrong. How else will the child learn that Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again after three days? How else will the child learn that they have a loving God who actively cares about them to the point of sending His very own Son to pay for their sins?  These are important, literally life and death, pieces of knowledge the child must have. And there was a promise made in baptism to put the word of God in front of the child, to bring them to worship services. That is why there is a plan “B” so to speak in the Godparents. As Godparents the task of encouraging the parents and the child can fall squarely on your shoulders.  And as 1 Timothy 5:1-2 reminds us we “Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.”  We reach out in love and help where it is needed.  It does not take a “Sicilian message” to get the point across.  All it takes is love.

PRAYER: Lord God Heavenly Father, You Word is so precious. Your love for us is so abounding. Help us to share that Word and that love with all who are in need of learning of the Good News of the Gospel. Guide our hearts and give us the right words to share. Help us to encourage when we are tempted to rebuke or use harsh words in confrontation. Let the love of Jesus be found in our words and actions. This we ask in the strong name of Jesus, Amen.

The Instant Grandparent

Psalms 144:15 Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall!  Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!

It happened suddenly one day. There I was, thinking at 46 I was still young. And out of nowhere I became a Grandpa. I was not prepared for this startling revelation, but that is what happens when you remarry. I had not given it a lot of thought, obviously, because it startled me when Alisha (my grand daughter) called me Grandpa.  Pam, my wife, has a son (Michael) and he has a daughter (Alisha.) One of the real bonuses of having a grand daughter is I have someone who can I can take to see movies like Avatar, Harry Potter and The Muppets.

Having kids can be a blessing, and a trial. There are times when I know that I am so very fortunate to have kids that it literally brings tears to my eyes. And there are times when the trials I go through with my kids brings me to tears. That is how life is. There is no guarantee, warrantee or instruction manual that comes with being a parent. It is a learn-as-you-go type of deal. But grandchildren are an entirely different matter.  There is this little person who you have the opportunity to be involved in the life of. You have the opportunity to share the love of Christ with this little person at a time in your life when time, experience, and hopefully wisdom can be brought to bear. You are given the chance to influence a young life in a manner that will leave a lasting impression. The legacy for you, and for Jesus is right there in front of you. The time spent with grandchildren is a gift from God. So, what do you do with that gift. Sure, you can fill the time with play, let the kids eat all manner of sugar filled goodies, spoil them and then sending them back to their parents whirling like a top. Or you can look at the time as an opportunity to help a child grow in their knowledge and love of Jesus. The time pressures and work demands on young parents can be tremendous. And being able to step in to help in this manner is a blessing. When we look at Psalms 144:15, helping our children & grand children, to see what a blessing we have in our Lord, is what we should be all about.  We can play an important part in their spiritual development at a time when it may not be a priority, or a possibility, with their parents. And oh by the way, if you do not have children or grandchildren you can still participate. Do you know someone with young kids or grandchildren what could use some help? Give this some thought and prayer. Open a dialogue with that friend and offer to help. Let the Lord lead your efforts. Let the Holy Spirit give you the words to speak. The good news that “Blesses are the people whose God is the Lord” should be shared with all.

PRAYER: Almighty God, You place children and grandchildren in our lives as blessings. Even when we do not have these blessings we are given opportunities to share the love of Christ with others. Guide us Lord to step out in faith and reach out to the many who do not know You as their Lord. Young or old, it does not matter. The harvest is plentiful and the workers are few. Give us the tools to help in gathering the harvest for You. This we ask in the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Daughters are a Blessing and a Curse

Deuteronomy 12: 12 And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons and your daughters, your male servants and your female servants, and the Levite that is within your towns, since he has no portion or inheritance with you.

I am blessed with a wonderful daughter. She was born a bit premature and her first baby clothes fit Cabbage Patch kid dolls. She is the youngest of my three kids. And having two older brothers she was exposed to all the interesting things older brothers do. I am so glad she survived the crash test dummy sliding down the stairs in a laundry basket episode. She routinely out fishes her brothers and dad. And in case you are wondering, she does have her dad wrapped around her little finger.

With apologies to the ladies out there reading this, I want to talk specifically to Fathers. This could be a “suggestion” given to fathers by mothers I suppose. But guys, let’s talk.  When was the last time you had a worship experience that was just you and your daughter?  Has it been awhile, or maybe has it ever happened? This is an important point to consider. All to frequently in our world today, the woman is the driver for children participating in worship and study of Christianity. The traditional role that men were given has shifted. I will not argue whether this is appropriate or not. Looking at Deuteronomy 12:12 certainly gives you insight into what our Lord expects.  But I will pitch to you that if you do not step up and become actively involved in the spiritual growth of your daughters you are selling yourself short. This opportunity to share time in study and worship is precious. You have a limited window of opportunity to take advantage of. And what better opportunity could there be to initiate meaningful conversation about today’s world than during study of the Word.  The contrasts (and similarities) between biblical times and today are food for great discussions.  It can also provide you with the opportunity to mentor your daughter on how to help her future husband in having a great relationship with her daughters. This is a pay it forward opportunity, along with doing what we as parents are called to do when we baptize our children. We are to put the Word of the Lord in front of our children. We are to bring them to worship services. We are to mentor their growth as Christians. Dropping our daughters off at Sunday school and picking them up when they are finished is just so not enough. Please, take an active role in the development of your daughters spiritual life. And who knows, you may be even asked questions about why you worry about your daughters so much (the curse part)? Give it a try.

PRAYER: Father, Abba, You give us daughters as a blessing. These gifts from you are more precious that gold. We are given the opportunity to guide our daughters in the growing love for You O God. Help us with the right words and actions to foster a relationship with with You that lasts their entire life time. Gives is the time and the patience to carry this out, by Your will. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen