|
 December 2001
A Father Hopes in Advent
Parenting, and Learning how to be a child of God
The first time, it happened in
the hospital. I was the one to declare, "It's a girl!" Nothing
had prepared me
for the elation, the tears of joy, as my daughter Ellen emerged into the
world. The second time was at the airport. "Northwest Airlines
welcomes Flight 1214 from Detroit, now arriving at gate C-2." A
strikingly different announcement, and yet, the feelings were remarkably
similar. Minutes ground away like hours as all of the other passengers
left the plane. Finally, he emerged, in the arms of his escort. The tears
flowed again, as we rushed forward to welcome our son Eric from Korea.
I am a father.
Boundless Hopes...
From the instant that I become a
father, my entire world was swept up into hopes and dreams for my
children. When Laura and I were married, we experienced love for one
another that transformed us. When we became parents, that love tumbled
over itself "seventy times seven times". Our world has become so
much bigger, and our aspirations that much more grand, as we cherish and
nurture our children.
What kind of people will Ellen
and Eric become? What will they accomplish with their lives? Are they
learning from us the best ways to love and to be loved? Will they be
people of faith, of integrity? There is no limit to my hopes for my
children.
from Bethlehem...
It is easy for me to imagine what
might have been going through the minds of Mary and Joseph at the time of
Jesus' birth. I imagine that they, like me, were caught up in the miracle
of this precious one coming into the world. I imagine that they were
pretty much in a daze through Mary's labor and that first week as a new
family. Soon after that, however, I am certain that they began to think
seriously about Jesus' future, about who and what he would become.
In those quiet
days, the new parents had no inkling of all that would happen to Jesus of
Nazareth. How much joy and sorrow must have pierced their hearts (Luke
2:34-35), as they discovered exactly who their son was, and what he would
be for all of us! Jesus' faithfulness to God's call would bring him
crucifixion and death, but ultimately, new life for the world. I can only
imagine the turmoil that this journey through agony to new life would
bring upon Jesus' family.
and from the heart of
God...
And what of God, who sent Jesus to
be Light of the World? Was God unmoved by all that Jesus suffered on the
Road to Glory? Despite knowing the outcome of it all, the "big
picture", I can only imagine that God cried tears of joy with Jesus'
successes, and tears of sorrow as he was abandoned on the Cross. Does this
imagery meet our theological definitions of an all-powerful, all-knowing,
almighty Creator? Not exactly. But it does fit with Jesus'
"Abba", whom he knew so intimately, and loved so dearly.
...for all of us.
Being a parent is a powerful
reminder of the way that God loves me. I know that I love my child of
adoption just as freely as my child by birth. With that experience, I can begin
to imagine how God, who has adopted all of us, loves us:
For you did not receive a spirit of
slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption,
through which we cry, "Abba, Father!" The Spirit itself bears
witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then
heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with
him so that we may also be glorified with him. - Romans 8:15-16
What hopes and dreams God must have for us!
What love and compassion, as we live and die, rejoice and suffer, succeed
and fail!
O God,
loving Abba,
may we never lose sight of you,
your endless hope in us,
and your unconditional love for us.
As we
remember the birth of Jesus this year,
may we celebrate with our children and families
your boundless love;
love that strengthened Joseph and Mary,
that nurtured Jesus throughout his life,
that sustained him through suffering and death,
that burst forth from him in Easter Life;
love that brings healing and light to the world
as we await his return in glory.
O Abba,
Our Father! Our Father!
Chris Weber
Director
Catholic Education Ministries of Central Maryland.
Copyright © 2001 by the Catholic Education
Ministries Center of Central Maryland, Emmitsburg, MD 21727. All rights reserved.
Comments about this
article? Great ideas that you want to share? Send me your remarks via Email...
|
|
|
I
know that I love my child of adoption just as freely as my child by birth.
With that experience, I can begin to imagine how God, who has adopted all
of us, loves us.
Photo:
Eric, 15 months and Ellen, age 4
Share this article! [Click
here to open a copy in Adobe Acrobat format, suitable for printing.]
|
|
