Child of God

Recently I was reading from Luke 2, the story of Jesus as a baby and a young boy at the temple. I was pondering what it must have been like for Jesus’ parents to manage the existing tensions of their son being fully God and fully human. On the one hand, seeing Him experience physical and intellectual growth as any normal human child would have, but also experiencing the supernatural favor of God in his everyday life in unusual and increasing measure.

I thought about Mary treasuring Jesus’ development, growth and maturity in her heart. No doubt she reflected on her encounters and conversations with the angel, Elizabeth, Simeon and Anna…all who verified that Jesus was the incarnate Son of God. Knowing in her heart His true identity and yet did she ever struggle with what she knew to be truth and what she saw playing out before her in their families day to day lives?

As Jesus’ parents I imagine there would have been moments of sheer awe and anticipation at the understanding of who their son was. Conflicting with moments of deep awareness that He was human, and so were they. I imagine they encountered insecurity in knowing that they with their limited human experience, capacity and ability they had been entrusted  to raise this God child. 

As I pondered  the text, I reflected on my role as a Mom and one who often struggles with tensions and insecurities of parenting in 2011. I asked myself whether in those moments of day to day living, when loving and parenting is stressful and difficult, do I remember that my children are a gift from God, a miracle in the making, and created in the likeness of Christ? A child of God. When I am frustrated with their seeming lack of growth and maturity do I remember that God is at work in their lives and He will complete the good work He has begun? When I am questioning their choices or decisions do I remind myself that God is Sovereign and has a destiny for each of His beloved children? And, He is the Master of taking circumstances, choices along with their consequences and utilizing them to draw His children to Himself.

When I am overwhelmed with my lacking of insight, wisdom, discernment as a parent….the list goes on…do I draw on the fact that God promises to work through my weakness’ and He is able to do more that I can humanly dream or imagine? The question I ultimately asked myself is how do I manage the tension of parenting my child in the midst of his/her humanity intertwined with their true identity as a son, or daughter, of God? 

As I pondered all those thoughts in my heart I found myself thumbing through the pages of my Bible, to 1 Cor 13, commonly referred to as the love chapter, my eyes fell to verse 13. “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
I smiled to myself and thanked God for His Word. When it comes to my children I must hold to faith and remain sure of what I hope for and certain of what I do not see unfolding before me. I need constant hope that Christ who began a good work is faithful to carry it on to completion, right up until Christ’s return. And the greatest and most important thing I can choose…always… is to love. To love my children as Christ loves. And to remember that as much as I love my children…God loves them more. They are His children, loaned to me for a season, a privilege and responsibility that I must steward well but with ultimate dependence on God.