Exhortation

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” 
- Philippians 4:4-7 NIV

All too often, I’m afraid, Amy and I find ourselves giving unsolicited advice to our children. All in the name of teaching and guiding them in the right direction and making good choices. It usually sounds something like this:

“If I were you, I would...”
“When I was a young parent, I would…”
“When I was your age, I dealt with this issue like this...”
“I know you know better than me on this subject. However, I’d consider...”

Sometimes they listen and heed our advise. 
Sometimes they file it away. 
Sometimes they choose to ignore it and go their own way.

Every now and then, usually in more quiet one on one moments or in a written note, we will try to exhort our children. Try to give them motivational thoughts to help them gain perspective and do their best to glorify God through how they prepare and how they do in a work, academic or athletic endeavor.

It usually reminds them of the love we have for them and, even greater, the love Jesus has for them, and continues with how proud we are of them. Then we will get into the meat, into the heart of the matter and lift them up. 
Lift them up so they can see their potential.
Lift them up so they can see through, around and over their perceived obstacles. 
Lift them up so that they know that not only do we love them and are on their side…
but that they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them…
They can soar like the eagles…
They will walk and not grow weary…
That even though they may walk through the valley of the shadow of death, they will fear no evil…
They will not be shaken.

And then we will remind them, just as Paul exhorts the Philippians, to “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Through it all, we remind them to never forget who they are... and whose they are. They are Stubblefields (though two are married now) and they are Christ’ ambassadors.

As are we...

Keep the Faith... Carpe Diem