The Psalmist says…
Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
(Psalm 127:3)
Our children are gifts from God. The fruit borne from the womb—the result of the union between husband and wife—is not just a biological byproduct, but is a reward given by the Lord. That’s an odd way to look at it: Usually you get a reward AFTER you have put in the work, but in this case, you get the reward and then, after the child is born, the work begins. A child is a gift, but like all gifts, they can be squandered, corrupted, and ruined by ill-use or neglect. Outside forces can ruin a good gift. Ingratitude can too. A thousand things can go wrong with the precious gift of life, so much so that many have wondered if having kids is even worth it.
It is.
Yesterday, my second gift celebrated his sixteenth birthday. Caleb is a joy to know. Even if I wasn’t his dad, I would find him hilarious and would love his company. I love his big heart, his long hugs, and his sharp wit. I love the little “side eye” look we give each other whenever we’re somewhere where making a joke would not be appropriate but we’re both thinking of the same joke. I love the way he steals my phone and takes a hundred stupid selfies with it before I realize it’s gone (actually, I don’t love that one quite so much). I love how he always has the exact right quip, anecdote, or sarcastic barb for every situation.
He’s as much a teenage boy as anyone else, so he does all the things that kids do to frustrate their parents (with his sleeping in, his “talk before thinking” personality, his mood swings, and—oi—his body odor), but there’s a genuine “servant’s heart” in him, and it brings me joy to see it in action, just as it brings me joy every time I hear him coming down the hall to tell me goodnight for the third time, annoying his mother (to both our delight).
Children are a gift from God. When I look at my precious Caleb, I can see just how good a gift-giver my wonderful Father really is.
~Matthew