Not So Famous…

Those are answers I find myself having to give more and more these days.

I don’t scream when I’m excited.  I don’t jump up and down, clasping my hands at my breast. I just…think excitedly, I guess.  Sometimes I pump my fist and say (not shout) “yes….”

Funny how when I talk on a regular basis, everyone assumes that I’m just joking around, but when it comes to the grave responsibility of raising a child, everyone thinks that my child’s first words could be found in George Carlin’s “Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television” routine.

So yes…I’m excited.  I’m quite a bit apprehensive, as I’ve said before. I do understand, probably more than many parents from the looks of things, just how serious of an undertaking I’ve begun, ok?  What do I mean?  When you have a child, you’re raising an immortal, regardless of your beliefs.  That child has a soul, and that soul has an eternal resting place.

I’m also talking about the father’s role in raising children, and that’s not limited to providing food and shelter, though that’s important.  I’m talking about being a true leader in the home.  Teaching your children, and not delegating it to the church.  Teaching your children, and not delegating that to the government, whether or not you’re sending them to public schools.  Educating your children in the things of the spirit, in the sciences, in music, in sports, in government and civics, in economics, in all things.  Leading your household…THAT is the role of the father.  And many fathers are far more interesting in pleasing themselves than in selflessly giving their lives for their family.  They’re more willing to delegate their responsibilities to the church, to the government, to the daycare facilities.  And serving God first and foremost as an example to your wife and children.  I know, I know….everyone’s busy.  Everyone’s got too much on their plate.  There just aren’t enough hours in the day….I know.  But that’s not an excuse.  The Lord has commanded you to be the leader of your home in these things, which means He has provided the means by which we can accomplish these things. Anything less is sin.

I’m sure there are some angry parents out there.  I’m not denigrating your child-rearing skills…I’m not thinking about anyone in particular.  I’m speaking in generalities.  If you feel I’m speaking directly to you, think about how much you’re interested in serving your own lusts, and how often you choose that above all else.  If you’re saying “I do <this> and <that> for my kids, but…” you still feel guilty?  Don’t look to me.  I’m going to be feeling the same thing here in awhile, I can tell you that right now.  Because we’re not perfect.  But many of us don’t even know what to shoot for!

THAT is important.  Because if we don’t have our standards set in the right place, we’ll answer such arguments, saying “LOOK AT ALL I DO!!!”  But what you DO isn’t the issue.  It’s what you don’t do.  It’s the things you ought to be doing and aren’t that is the issue here.  It’s the same as with sin.  If I ask most of the people I meet whether they’re Christians or not, most of them will say they are.  If I ask them how they know they’re going to heaven, this is where things will get a little muddy. “I’m basically a good person.”  “I don’t sin as much as <insert really bad person>.”  “I do some good.”  Etc.  The issue isn’t what good you’re doing, and the goal isn’t to basically do more good than bad.  The standard is absolute PERFECTION.  That is what we shoot for.  We ought not sit back, content, because we’ve never murdered anyone.  Have you ever been angry with anyone?  Called them a name, like “fool”, or “moron”?  You’re just as guilty as the murderer. We don’t weep over our sin because we think the standard is much lower than it really is.  What is the standard?  “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect.”  Got it?  Perfection.

When we are looking at what to shoot for, myself included, we need to weep when we fall short.  We need to strive against our sins, but we need to continue striving, and not be content with where we are…ever.  That’s what parents are called to do.  It’s sobering, isn’t it?  It’s rough, isn’t it?  I’m there in my own life….not with my children, but with the sin in my own life.  I know what the standard is, and I’m speaking as much to myself as anyone else. I know I’m going to make as many or more mistakes than anyone reading.

In short….yes, I’m excited about having a son soon.  And yes, I want to raise my children well.  My excitement about the former is tempered by the real meaning of the latter.

But I *AM* totally looking forward to singing in public to embarrass my kids.  So much fun!!!