“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” ~ 3 John 4
Connor, our 4th born, is truly a family favorite! And this past weekend the whole crew gathered together in Birmingham, Alabama to celebrate his graduation from Samford University.
What a wonderful weekend. I’m not going to lie, watching Connor walk across the stage to receive his college diploma made my mama heart swell big time. Seriously, we are all so proud of him and his hard work.
But later that night—After the ceremonies were over. After the dinner celebration had ended. After the gifts were given and the accolades issued. After the cap & gown were stuffed into the backseat of his pick up truck and the day wound down—Later that night, in bed, in the dark, and half asleep, I had my best JOY moment ever.
Just before drifting off to sleep, I thought about my kids all there nestled under one roof for the night and I gave praise for God’s goodness gathering them together, but more importantly, gathering them to Him.
This young man who walked across the stage earlier that day to shake a hand and receive a degree, this young man walks with Jesus, as do his siblings.
The diplomas and awards and achievements my kids have earned over the years are all nice and worthy of celebration, but they absolutely pale in comparison to their relationships with Jesus.
There is absolutely no greater joy than knowing they walk with Him. Nothing comes close. How can it possibly? We are talking about the difference between temporal and eternal. These accomplishments and achievements and gifts and gains are great and should be applauded, but they are only for the here and now. Someday they will be packed up in an attic or basement box and will begin to mildew or at the very least be completely forgotten.
Like mine. This past winter I spent a good deal of time sorting through all of our boxes (and boxes and BOXES) of saved things. Mementos and memories and more stuff than any family should ever sanely accumulate. I came across my college diploma. And my high school and grade school diplomas too. And Rick's as well. I mean, honestly, what am I even supposed to do with these things?
In our storage area we have boxes from both of our parents and all of their parents and ourselves and our kids. It spans generations and generations. I could devote an entire room to family papers and mementos. A family records room of sorts! I’ve thought about it.
But at the end of the day, you and I both know we can’t take any of it with us in the end. It is just stuff.
It means something, sure. But not nearly enough. These things are for now, but they won’t get us to the finish line. Not even the fanciest of degrees.
So the real joy comes from knowing they are secure in Christ. They have placed their trust in Him. But please hear me--This is gratitude, not great boasting or bragging. I can boast of nothing. “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14. There’s nothing to boast about, but Jesus. If anything, it is humbling.
And though I have great joy knowing they profess Jesus, I can promise you that doesn’t mean it is pretty and perfect and all tied up in a nice package. Not. At. All. If you know the McNatts, you know we are also messy, messy, messy. My kids might follow Jesus, but they also fall and fail and falter. Just like their mom and dad.
Walking with Jesus does’t mean everything is easy and effortless. Nope, we struggle. We sin. We mess up. We mess up again and again and again. And that’s where His GRACE comes in.
We don’t need a diploma on the wall in a fancy frame we need the divine dispensation of His love come down for us. Come down to give us real hope and a real future.
It is available for all. There’s no prerequisites required. No classes or conditions needed. It is ready and waiting and completely free for anyone willing to walk across the stage of life and bow at the feet of Jesus.
Sure my job as a mom was to launch them out of the nest and into adulthood, but make no mistake, my biggest and most important job was always to lead them, best I could, to Jesus. And as I fight for joy this year, I wanted to share this true celebration with you all.
One last thing I feel like I must add--maybe you have a child's who isn't walking with the Lord. Let me encourage you--God's got them. If they have a mother or father praying for them, He hears your prayers and He is doing a work. Let's choose to trust Him. His timing is perfect and His ways are most tender. He is the Good Shepherd who leaves the 99 and returns for the one. He is that Jesus.
This week I invite you to memorize with me --
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
~ 3 John 4
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