Building Docks
Just got back from spending a week in NY with my family. Going to NY continues to be a very emotionally difficult time for me. Every time I return there is small part of me that thinks to myself that my Dad will be there when I get there. Of course everything in me knows he will not be…but there is this expectation and then a let down
when we get there. I spent some time doing the things that my dad would normally do in the summer while I was up there…building dock sections and misc cottage repairs. Mylissa helped me with the docks, which was a huge blessing and the boys helped drive a few screws as well. Just building docks right? Well the last time that I built docks was with my Dad. There are dock forms that he built, that he used last. Building a dock is a process. Measure, get supplies, sand, stain, measure, cut, build, sand and then a finish stain. During this whole process, I couldn’t get my Dad off my mind. Part of me was angry, part melancholy, but part joy and gratification that I was filling my dads shoes. Doing something that he would normally do or I would do with him.
It made me think about my life. What am I teaching those around me? What am I or what will I be teaching my children that they will take with them for the rest of their life. There are many things that my father showed me by life example that I have developed me into the person I am today.
As a father of 3 children…how am doing this? I began to think about this process.
Measure. Get Supplies. Sand(prep). Stain. Measure. Cut. Build. Sand. Stain.
In context to my children…How can I MEASURE where they are at? (in Christ, maturity, humility, obedience, disciplines). How can I SUPPLY them? What tools and material do they need? How can I begin to PREP them? Round off the rough edges? How can I show them that their life was bought with a STAIN? That their sins are covered? Then as they go through life…teach them to Measure their own life, assess where things are at? Then CUT off what is not needed… Cut off the excess? Then BUILD your life on what is TRUE, what is HOLY, what is PURE. Then let the Lord begin to SAND away the rough edges and help form them. Repent of the sin and ugliness. Then always come back to Christ and let his STAIN cover them. The blood that was shed for them and has covered their sins.
The hands of the craftsman always get dirty and banged up as he forms his masterpiece. I have peace knowing that my master craftsman is willing to get dirty and banged up. It lets me know that I am His and He is mine and that He cares about me deeply.
