Everlasting Father

Being a parent is hard. We want to give our kids the best and when we can’t it’s easy to feel guilty. Add in the holidays and Military life, and you’ve got a whole swamp of guilt to muddle through: can’t be with grandparents, can’t afford that toy, can’t make the perfect picture for social media happen, can’t get a gift shipped on time, can’t make it to the school program, can’t even make it home for supper.

But it’s impossible (and unrealistic) to expect that we can make our kids happy all the time—or that their constant happiness should even be our goal as parents. Yes, we would do anything to see their contagious smiles. Unfortunately, life isn’t always rainbows and unicorns. And we’re human. We will fail them, repeatedly.

But in that failure, we can point them to the only perfect, everlasting Father—the one who will never die, never leave them, never be too busy or broke or tired or too far away. He will always provide what is best for them.

The gift of Christmas is Christ coming to show us the Father and make the way for us to be adopted into God’s family, with full rank and privileges of a child of God.

Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing.

James 1:17 (CEV)

The activities, the menu, the people, the places, the traditions, the gifts, even the date of Christmas celebrations can change. So many things require flexibility from us and our kids. But that message of the gift of life with the eternal Father is unshakeable. It will never change. And He will never change. This week’s Scripture verse reminds us that God is the same—yesterday, today, forever.

So, enjoy what you can without stressing. Let go of what you can’t do, and find ways to tell your children over and over about their everlasting Father. When the disappointments of life come, teach them to watch for how the Lord brings you all through.

PRAY

Father God, sometimes we look so desperately for stability. Teach us to look to you and to show our children their everlasting Father. Amen.

TIME TO TALK

Conversation starter for kids: Provides you with questions and prompts to facilitate a time of applicable discussion with children to lead them towards knowing God and His Word more deeply.

Question(s): What are some things you wish would last forever? What do you suppose it will be like to be with Jesus forever?

Apply: Draw a picture together of what heaven might look like. Let everyone add their favorite things. It’s okay for your kids to add silly things to heaven, too. We all hope there are cheeseburgers and French fries there!

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help parents expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Swipe to read the passages today.

Psalm 119:89-90

Hebrews 13:8