Cogges Parish newsletter February 2003

From the newsletter ...

Parenthood

What a year of change it has been -- not only in the world at large, but in my own situation. Almost a year ago my mother died, the last of the older generation, and on the day of her funeral my first grandchild was born (my son's), to be followed only four weeks later by the second (my daughter's).

One of the delights of this year of change has been to see both babies growing from their initial helplessness and total dependence, and beginning to develop quite distinctive personalities and a growing range of skills. Another delight has been to see how both couples have risen to the challenge of parenthood. I doubt whether they'd ever fully reckoned on the upheaval a child would cause them -- not just the sleepless nights, but the re-ordered priorities, the constant attention. But they have committed themselves to making it work, and it shows -- the love and care, the patience and gentleness, the concern when things go wrong, the desire to give the best, the constant support, the encouraging of new skills, the bond of understanding that doesn't need words.

Yet what I see in these new parents is only a shadow of the love of God. For Jesus described becoming a Christian as a new birth -- becoming a child of the heavenly Father. There is no match for his love, his patience is inexhaustible, he is always ready to pick us up and dust us down when we fall, he longs to see us develop and thrive and enjoy life to the full, and we can always count on him to guide us when the way is dark and encourage us when it's tough. He just wants us to ask, and to trust him. As Jesus put it: "If you, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

In a year of change like this I've been very glad of the security and confidence that a relationship with the heavenly Father can bring.

David Page

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