Those Who Sow in Tears

 


On January 1, 2022, our family began a two-year Bible reading plan through our church. The goal was to be able to read the entire Bible over the course of two years. We sit on the couch as a family, and I read a couple of chapters out loud before bed. We have followed the reading plan as much as possible, but of course, changes in our daily schedule, especially late nights or traveling or not having everyone in the house at the same time, have caused us to get off course. Here we are in July 2024, about seven months behind schedule, but as of this writing, we have only 15 chapters of the book of Psalms left to complete. My new goal (which I am confident of accomplishing) is to finish by (or on) Rayne's 18th birthday. It will be very meaningful to me to know that I have read every word of the Bible out loud to my children.

Today's verse comes from a recent family reading, and it has a lot of meaning for me. The thing that really comes to mind the most for me is the idea of being a parent. There is no doubt that I have sown in tears MANY times as Angie and I have raised these kids, and I am not ashamed to admit that I have shed tears almost every single day for most of the past year and a half. The majority of those tears have been crying out to God to provide and protect, tears shed for the love of my family, and tears of sorrow for my many mistakes, but my favorite are the tears of joy.

I am far from perfect, especially as a parent, but I know for a fact that there is no person who could ever love my family more than I do. As we prepare for Rayne to move out of this house soon and to begin his adult life in college, I am already shedding tears at the thought of a more quiet house and not hearing the almost constant drumming. As often as we have to remind Rayne to close his bedroom door, I never would have thought that I could miss hearing those drumsticks like I know I will. I can only pray that the good we have sown into him will produce more plentifully than any mistakes I have sown.

Of course, Carrie will still be with us a few more years, and I look forward to spending more time with her as an "only child," even though I know that she is not looking forward to all that extra attention! But the thing that I am trying to look forward to in our next phase of life are the shouts of joy as we watch our children grow into the amazing adults that I know they are ready to become.

One thing, in particular, that I am looking forward to is the first day that we have all three kids together again under our roof. I may literally shout for joy on that day! If nothing else, I know that I will be praising God for bringing my family back together, especially as I go out for my walk in God's woods.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of watching my children grow. I know that we have experienced some difficult times when raising our kids, but I look forward to seeing the beautiful work that you have done with what Angie and I have sown. Thank you for loving me, and thank you for loving my family more than I ever can. In the loving name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

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