Sunday, November 5, 2017

what Is Your Definition of a He-man?

“But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (I Tim. 4:7-8).

Hey Gang, Wow!  I have watched this lad for the past sixteen years and he has continually popped the buttons from my shirt with pride.  Qualifying to participate in the State Cross Country finals is indeed a goal to work for, if you are a runner.  He ran the race of his life yesterday when he competed in the State Finals for High School Cross Country (Lower Peninsula). He finished 40th in his Division of 250 runners!  Now, what that means is he is he has worked very, very hard!  

That also means is he is a disciplined runner who placed the goal of reaching the State level by diligently running daily, no matter what the weather.  (And, as he ran his miles each day, he had a companion, his daddy, on a bicycle or car depending on weather) who rode shot gun for him every single day).

Now, I want to tell you a little about the ‘price of success’ for this family.  We learned early that he was on the Autism spectrum, Aspergers, which can be an all-consuming malady.  But, he was blessed to be born into a home with two parents who made a vow that autism would not control and destroy his life.

As he ran this race of his young life, there were really three people running in his shoes, a Momma and Daddy who have been models of sacrifice, since he arrived on this earth.  His mother is a self-studied authority on this malady, not the medical part, although she has spent countless hours in research of how to beat this dreaded malady, but the part that requires the total giving of the heart to assure that no matter what the price, she will continue to give.  There have been no races, no baseball games, no basketball games, no soccer games when his mom and dad where not there.

Yes, I am proud not only for his success in the physical areas but equally proud of him in the academic areas – today inducted into the National Honor Society - social areas and most of all - that he loves the Lord and has committed his life to following Jesus where ever He leads him. 

In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses gave us a model of how to raise our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.  He wrote: “These words which I am commanding you this day shall be in your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gate” (Deut. 6:6-9).   

Notice the prerequisite that makes this code of how to raise your children effective: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (vs. 5).   

The race yesterday was the culmination of sixteen years of sacrifice, tremendously hard work, successes and failures all wrapped up in a huge ball with a ribbon around them called sacrificial love.  If every child in America had the same sacrificial giving parents, we could turn the Eagle Villages into ski lodges.  Why am I so proud, because this young lad is my grandson, Brandon, who has been covered with that sacrificial love.

Well done Marjorie and Jim! 
 
Blessing,


Gramps

No comments:

Post a Comment