In the last few weeks, I have celebrated my son’s first birthday and the second anniversary of my marriage. As a result, I have been reflecting a little on life as a father and husband.
The night of the birthday party, I was driving back home after picking up pizzas. I decided to prepare a little bit for the prayer that I would say in front of family and friends before the meal. I reflected on Noah’s first year, and my first year as a father. There have been a lot of joyous occasions–a lot of laughing, smiling, and “awww-ing.” But it has certainly been more than that. I realized that because of Noah, my wife and I work harder and sleep less. We have less money and less time for ourselves. And then, while driving, I started to tear up at the thought of God’s blessings.
No, I didn’t go back to thinking about all the happy moments. It’s the other stuff that is the biggest blessing. It’s the stuff that I wouldn’t ask for. It’s the stuff that I don’t desire. It’s the stuff that involves discomfort, inconvenience, sacrifice, and…well faith. You see, I’m a sinner who needs to be changed. I’m still going through that refining process. Marriage and parenthood are two of the processes that God uses the most to sanctify and humble his people. I am so thankful to God for his mercy and grace to me through those things. I am so thankful to God for giving me a son and a wife to love.
Derek Webb said it well: “Love is different than you’d think. It’s never in a song or on a TV screen. And love is harder than a word said at the right time, and everything’s alright.”
The path of love involves self-sacrifice and pain. Christ showed us that in his cross. And no servant is greater than his master.
