I posted this a while ago, and it was mentioned to me recently in an e-mail, so I thought I'd post it again (with a few minor additions). Originally, this was written in August, 2009 before my parents went to China on a two-year missions term.
One of the hardest things that I've had to do in recent memory I did just this week. I loaned my parents back to God for a while.
For about 16 months, I've known that they had the opportunity to move to China on a teaching visa for two years. Before they began planning the details of the trip, they actually came to my wife and I and asked us what we thought about the idea.
For about 16 months, I've known that they had the opportunity to move to China on a teaching visa for two years. Before they began planning the details of the trip, they actually came to my wife and I and asked us what we thought about the idea.
Moving overseas for a period of time was something that I know they've long wanted to do. But for most of the last sixteen months I've really lived in a state of denial that they were ever leaving.
Yet, two nights before they left, my wife and I ate the "Last Supper" (as we playfully called it) with my parents before they departed for China. Then, on a Thursday morning we dropped them at the airport.
Many times in the dedication of a baby, the story is told of Hannah, who dedicated her son Samuel to the Lord even before he was born. Then, following his birth, when he was of age, she took him to the temple to be raised in the service of the Lord by the priest (Eli).
I find that, as I currently have three children, and one more due any day now, I realize the importance of dedicating children to God. Yet that week has shown me that it's not a strict interpretation of this passage only that applies. We can take the general concept ... dedication.
So in the midst of the transition in my life, I've been educated, so to speak, in the area of dedication. We've all heard the classic statement of role reversal before, "The student has become the teacher." That week, the child has dedicated the parents.
Yet, two nights before they left, my wife and I ate the "Last Supper" (as we playfully called it) with my parents before they departed for China. Then, on a Thursday morning we dropped them at the airport.
Many times in the dedication of a baby, the story is told of Hannah, who dedicated her son Samuel to the Lord even before he was born. Then, following his birth, when he was of age, she took him to the temple to be raised in the service of the Lord by the priest (Eli).
I find that, as I currently have three children, and one more due any day now, I realize the importance of dedicating children to God. Yet that week has shown me that it's not a strict interpretation of this passage only that applies. We can take the general concept ... dedication.
So in the midst of the transition in my life, I've been educated, so to speak, in the area of dedication. We've all heard the classic statement of role reversal before, "The student has become the teacher." That week, the child has dedicated the parents.
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