Just Like Me!

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. (Colossians 3:18-25 ESV). Last week I heard a wonderful sermon from Mark Mangrem, pastor of Gospel City Church from our reading today. As I began to think about it through the days between then and now, I was struck by the emphasis from the apostle in basic relationships. Even though he had no family of his own, he understood the incredible importance of a proper balance between husbands and wives; parents and children; and, employers and employees. Perhaps the most common lie from which we all suffer is the belief that there is plenty of time to focus on relationships that count. That is rarely the case. Harry Chapin’s classic ballad, Cat’s in the Cradle (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etundhQa724) follows a man who is just too busy to enjoy his son growing up. He loves his child, for sure, but just like many of us he feels he must focus on his work and goals and life – for the good of the family, no doubt. On the boy’s tenth birthday, the boy begs his father to go in the backyard and play catch with the ball and glove he had just given him. “Not today, got a lot to do,” was the response. But the boy seemed to understand. And as he watches the father he idolizes walk away, the boy smiles and vows that “I’m gonna be like him, yeah, you know I’m gonna be like him.” Many years pass, the father has retired, and the boy now has a family of his own. Dad calls and asks to see him. “I’d love to, Dad, if I can find the time. You see, my new job’s a hassle and kids have the flu. But it’s sure nice talking to you, Dad,” is the reply. “It’s sure nice talking to you.” Dad realizes that his son’s wish has been fulfilled, and “He’d grown up just like me. My boy was just like me.” Time cannot be postponed, only lost. The time to nurture relationships is today. The fall has been particularly busy for us. Just one of the things I have been doing is taking my granddaughter, Faith, to school in the mornings. One day she announced to her twin brother, who must arrive at school an hour before her for athletics, that she likes that ride with me “because grandpa tells me stories.” I wish I could claim that time as intentional. It wasn’t at first. I was just using the time to talk to her and some of the old stories of my childhood and teen years came up. I had no idea she really enjoyed hearing them. I do know now, so the ride to school now becomes an important part of building relationship. What are some ways you can nurture your relationships?