Thoughtful: Wanting the Best
Most of the parents I’ve met want what’s best for their children. Since the moment I looked into Hannah’s eyes I knew that not only a new priority had entered into our lives, but also a responsibility. I want what’s best for her, but I can’t help feeling challenged by what “the best” really is.
We prioritize our children and rightly so, but along with this comes a responsibility to do so with wisdom. For a first time parent (and possibly for a second, third, or fourth) this wisdom can sometimes seem rather evasive. Sure, Rebekah and I pray daily for Hannah. Sure, we spend time reading out of her Jesus Storybook to her. Sure, she has a community of people who love her dearly. However, how can we ever know if we’re handling this responsibility and priority with absolute wisdom? How can we know if we’re doing things “right?”
In thinking about “the best” for Hannah we keep being led back to two places within the Text. The first is Deut 6:4-9Deut 6:4-9
English: World English Bible - WEB
4 Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one:
5 and you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.
6 These words, which I command you this day, shall be on your heart;
7 and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.
8 You shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for symbols between your eyes.
9 You shall write them on the door-posts of your house, and on your gates.
WP-Bible plugin where Moses encourages the sons and daughters of a previous generation who chose against God’s heart to not repeat the mistakes of their parents. The same teachings are true for Hannah and all of us as it was back then, don’t forget God’s Words, His Story, and our place within it. We are dedicated to continually teaching this truth. The second comes from the story she was named after, the prophet Samuel’s mother (see 1 Samuel). A beautiful story of a barren woman desiring a child to be born to her, and when one is given she offers him up to the service of God. A woman of great faith who keeps her word, and therefore, a mighty vessel of God comes through her. We try to daily remind ourselves that Hannah has been dedicated over to the hands and service of God.
Those two places are just the highlights in the Text, among the many, that have comforted us in the early days of parenting. I suppose one of the best things we can do as parents is to model Micah 6:8Micah 6:8
English: World English Bible - WEB
8 He has shown you, O man, what is good.
What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly,
To love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
WP-Bible plugin: “He has shown/told you O man, what is good and what the LORD requires of you, Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.”. Or as Jesus later affirms, “Love God, love your neighbor.” This is the source of absolute wisdom. This is what’s best.
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