Deliberate Investments
Be Shepherds of God’s flock…
1 Peter 5:2
Hardy moved quietly, trying not to awaken anyone but his
eight year-old son, Griff, “Hey Buddy,” he whispered while softly shaking Griff’s
shoulder, wanting to awaken, but not startle his son.
Griff was groggy at first. Then, in that first moment of
awareness, when we lay hold of understanding, Griff sat upright, they were going fishing! “Is it time?!”
he asked excitedly.
“Yep!” Hardy could barely restrain his laughter at his son’s
immediate transition from dead sleep to wide awake, Funny how the mind works its way through the fog of unconsciousness
into stark clarity so quickly when it’s something fun!
Twenty minutes later, breakfast consumed, fishing gear
loaded, and the boat hitched to the truck, they set out for the lake and a day
of adventure.
Griff was a live-wire, shooting rapid-fire questions, hardly
allowing Hardy time to answer before the next one burst from his lips, “Where
we goin’ first?! Can I drive the boat?! Do we have ’nough worms?! Didja get the
bigfatjuicyones?!”
“Whoa, Buddy! Don’t wear yourself out before we get there.”
Hardy smiled, remembering mornings like this when his Dad had looked at him in
amusement, while shaking his head and patiently answering each question in its
time.
This was going to be a great day, full of possibilities; a
day of memories waiting to be made and experienced!
†
Hardy loved to fish because his father had taken the time to
introduce him to the sport. He had deliberately invested in his son; depositing
knowledge, wisdom, and time, so that Hardy had the best chance at becoming a
man of character, one who looked out for others. Hardy, likewise, wanted Griff
to be a man of instruction; a man able to make good, well-informed choices. In
short, he understood a father’s charge: shepherd
your flock.
Our sons and daughters will exhibit only the characteristics
we take the time to model for them. If we deliberately invest in them they will
not disappoint us, or society.
The truth about time is that it is fleeting. We should endeavor
to not miss a chance to plant good seed into each moment provided.
Prayer
“Help me plant good
seeds, Lord. Show me when and what to deposit into my flock’s lives, Father. In
Jesus’ Name, Amen. ”
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