Walk Worthy of the Calling You Have Received

 


In August 2002, I became a math teacher because I needed a job, I had a math degree, and Freedom High School needed another teacher. I took the job, not necessarily expecting it to be a long-term career, much less realizing that it was a calling from God. I quickly found out that I liked teaching math, but I also found out that I enjoyed connecting with students. In particular, I began to develop some very important relationships with young men who didn't have a positive father figure in their lives. Even today, I am still connected with many of those young men, and it always brings me joy to watch the progress they have made in their lives.

In February 2024, I found a completely different career path, and since then, I have a much better perspective of my calling. One night, just after I had started my new career, I was walking with several of my new colleagues, on our way back to our hotel in New York City. We were getting to know one another, and one of my new colleagues complimented how much they could see that I love my family. Without really thinking about it, I responded that being a father is my biggest calling in life.

Since that night, I have thought so much about the truth in what I said. Not only for my biological children, but also for my "adopted" sons, I truly do believe that being a good father is my most important job in this life, and I take seriously my desire to walk worthy of that calling. I want my family to see that no matter how much I love them, God loves them even more. More importantly, I need my family to see how much I love God.

As verse 2 describes, for me to love my God and my family like I should, I need to be humble, gentle, patient, and accepting. (Funny that I just realized how closely that verse mirrors the fruits of the Spirit.) I will be the first to admit that I often fall short of those traits, and I pray that my family will be forgiving of my failures. Thankfully, I know that my Father is always willing to forgive.

Heavenly Father, I know that I will never be fully worthy of my calling as a father in this life, but I am forever thankful and humbled to remember that You love my family more than I ever can. Thank you, Father, that I can love them because you first loved me. In the eternally loving name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

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