| Every day, I walk my son to the corner for school. We chat about the weather and make observations about nature around us. And I always tell him how much I love him and pray for him. It’s the same prayer I pray every day and it’s the same prayer I pray for him at bedtime:
“May God bless you and keep you safe and healthy. May He watch over you and guide you and help you to make kind and loving choices for yourself and for others. And may you always know that you have a very special purpose in life and so does everyone else.”
Today, as I put my arm around him and prayed as we walked, he asked me a question…
“Mommy, what is my purpose in life?”
I’ve prayed that prayer for him every single day this school year and this is the first time he has asked me that question. And it’s a good one…one for all of us to ask ourselves.
I said, “Well, God will reveal specifically how He wants to use you with the gifts He has purposely given you as you grow older, but while you’re waiting, you are called to love God, love yourself, and love others. And in fact, that calling on your life will never change. No matter how old you are or what you do with your life or what your circumstances are, you can always love God, love yourself, and love others. Isn’t that awesome?”
I’m not sure if he truly understood how awesome that is, but his “Ok” told me that he at least understood a little bit. After all, he’s only almost 9 and it took me almost 40 years of my life to truly understand that.
But today, at least a seed was planted. And I just pray it grows as he grows. And as life gets messy and confusing and uncertain at times, I pray that he will always know with certainty his very special purpose in this world…loving God, loving himself, and loving others…no matter what! And that will bring him contentment and even joy in all things.
What a great lesson for all of us.
Lord, Your greatest commandment to us is to love You with all our hearts and with all our souls and with all our minds and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. (from Matthew 22:37-39) That is our greatest purpose in life. We can all do this no matter how old we are, what life stage we are in, or what our crazy circumstances bring. Help us to love You, love the person we see in the mirror, and love the people you have placed right in front of us. And give us wisdom to teach our kids to do the same.
Here’s to building better families together!
Christine |
