Happy Birthday, Kyle !

 

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! (Psalm 139:13-17 ESV).

 

David is the author of our reading today. It is one of my most quoted passages in the Old Testament. It speaks directly to the incredible gift God has chosen in creating each of us uniquely designed for His purpose and our good. Since today is Kyle’s birthday. For those of you not familiar with my family, he is my oldest son.  As is my custom, I thought I’d write a few words about that day. By the way, the picture I’ve included is one taken in Tennessee. Kyle and I were fly fishing for rainbow trout. It was one of those picture perfect days, even though I was the only one of our group to catch a fish. On the way home he reminded me of a wise saying my Dad often used with me when I felt like the time was wasted because we didn’t catch anything. He said, “You know, I remember someone telling me when I was young that’s the reason they call it ‘fishin’ and not catchin’.” There were plenty of times I used that with him in our outings, which were numerous!

 

It always amazes me how often we feel disappointed that an experience didn’t turn out just the way we thought it should. Perhaps our expectations were not fully met, or we experienced less than we thought we wanted. Truthfully, on that day my only regret was that he didn’t catch his first Rainbow and I assumed he might have been disappointed. With him sharing playfully, though wisely, that old adage, I “caught” something much better than a fish. It was just another example of the incredible plan of God in all the little things of life with each of my sons.

 

Children are no mistake or accident. The day of their birth was long ago determined by God as the psalmist wrote (v.16). Children are a blessing or gift from God not unexpected and they should be given thanks for to God. In fact, I believe it is one of the greatest joys God could give to us. As you think of your children and/or grandchildren, please remember they are gifts of God. Even when the challenges seem insurmountable, God is developing great good in your life through them. Happy Birthday, Kyle… thanks for the great joy you bring to me every day!