I imagine many of you have been eyeballing the month of August. The beginning of school is just around the corner and August bears the distinction of marking the end of summer vacation and the beginning of the next phase in our children's growth. Endings and beginnings belong together. One door opens and another door closes. The future becomes the past to make room for the future.
Back in the day, I listened to The Moody Blues and one of their lyrics of a song has stayed with me; our arms around the future with our backs up against the past. Face it, life is lived forward but understood backwards. All this came to mind this morning as I re-read notes my wife has taped to her mirror. They are love notes from Maryneal. Each marked a significant life event and each highlighted her love for her mother. This coming August 11 we will be moving Maryneal into her dorm room at UGA to begin her college career. Our arms are around the future with our backs up against the past!
We aren't perfect parents and we never will be; however, we tried as best we could to be consistent in sharing love with our children. The love notes taped on the mirror serve as reminders that love is the most important way in which we share our lives. Gray offered that insight in his sermon on Sunday when he explained that Jesus' teaching to be perfect as God in Heaven is perfect is not a directive to the impossible, but rather encouragement to share your love as best you can. We are in process which means our arms are around the future with our backs up against the past.
As you launch your children into the next phase of their growth take the time to remember the love that you shared in the past and bless them with the love that helps to dream them into their future!
Prayer for Today
Eternal God, thank you for the gift of love which guides us, shapes us, and leads us into the future into which you are calling. Help us to remember these gifts so that we can enter into the future faithfully; embracing the promise of your future while resting on the knowledge of your providential care in the past. Amen.
