Folks, sometimes it takes someone to remind you of your past to be even more thankful for not forgetting how far you've come. As I am to become a father, I start to think about the time where I teach my children how to live their lives.
I think about how I will be telling my child that drugs, of any kind, can be destructive for someone's life. I am going to tell her how I lost and never knew two Grandfathers because of their struggles with alcoholism. We will talk of the emotional abuse that can come from growing up in an alcoholic family. And when the time is right, I will have to answer yes to whether or not I have done drugs.
More than about fourteen years ago, as a senior in high school, I turned my back on God and everything I knew to be right; and it included alcohol and drugs. (I have been clean and sober for more than 12 years-I have had a drink on occasion, but it is different). I am not proud of these times and it will always be a part of my past. Will I feel like a hypocrit for telling my daughter not to do something I did? No, I don't think so. Here are two reasons why.
1) My daughter's life is more valuable to me than my own comfort and there are going to be many smaller things that I did, that I will be teaching her not to do and that will not be acceptable behavior for our home.. (Playing with matches, taking something from a store that was not mine, cussing, etc...)
2) It is a part of my past. I have been forgiven and it will be an opportunity to share the undeserved grace God offers. If I was still doing the rotten things; sure, I would be a hypocrit or 2-faced. But since it is a part of my past and God's standards have not changed; it is as wrong in the past as it will be in the future.
I have hurt many people in my past, and I will hurt them in the future. I would hope that they would be able to find the new life that only Christ offers and find the forgiveness from God for themselves and extend that to those who have hurt them.
BTW, this is the main reason I am a follower of Christ-His forgiveness. The apologetics simply helps me make sure I am growing as a Christians and teaching true doctrine. If I am not teaching and defending the truth, then it is possible I am following a lie.
Sincerely,
Derrick
3 comments:
Derrick,
Knowing the past is a generous gift to your child. You are going to be a great Dad.
I am extremely grateful to Jesus Christ for how far you have come. I am not ashamed of your past. Nor will I be ashamed for our daughter to know of your past. It will only increase her concept of forgiveness as well as show God's mercy and grace.
I am certain that my transparency will be valuable when the time comes. This will be more difficult, of course, if I am doing the things I do not want her to do.
I am hopeful that I will be able to share first hand of the effects and continual consequence of sin even years after I have been delivered.
Thanks,
Derrick
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