Teaching Daddy
  • Home
  • Blog

The Beauty of Walking Away

2/27/2014

1 Comment

 
Picture
The strategy goes back thousands of years. Today, it’s a bit risky for parents, and frustrating for children. It was just the opposite when utilized on the shores of Galilee by the man building his team. All risk belonged to the students. 
Perhaps you’ve tucked it into your parenting arsenal. When your child refuses to listen, isn’t eager to obey, or stomps in place…wisdom reminds us…
Say your instruction, and walk
away
. This is not abandonment. This is an invitation; an invitation to follow. Jesus extended this invitation in radical ways.    
Our children have the choice to make: Stay and pout, or trust. The child either follows or not. A fisherman named Peter had to make a similar choice centuries ago. As he cast his net into the sea, he hears 11 words that change the world: “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Like a parent who kindly turns and calmly leads his loved one, Jesus continues slowly down the shore, turning every few steps to wave Peter and his brother toward him. Peter looks away and stares at his hand holding the end of the fishing net. His fingers are dark brown from long days in the scorching sun. Hooks and teeth from fighting fish have left their mark in his palms. He grips the net tighter now…should he leave all he knows behind? Does he trade routine for insecurity, reason for faith, and career for a calling? The net must remain on shore if he is to go. His legs are still as he squeezes his net even tighter. Peter is usually quick in making decisions. Not today.
Sand is kicked in the air as Andrew has made up his mind. He hurries toward the teacher, knowing obedience is learned by obeying. As Peter stands alone, he looks to the sea, to his boat, to all he has ever known. It's what makes him safe and comfortable. But even this familiar place will turn into a frightening training ground of faith. Months later he will battle storms, be dared to walk on water, and jump overboard into the sea when no one else will. 
I suppose abandonment does come into play. Yet we are not abandoned by the one leading...we abandon ourselves. We must. To accompany Him, we  deny ourselves. We trade our identity for His. On that beach, Peter crawls out
of his skin and leaves it next to his net, which is slowly overtaken by the
tide. He hurries to the One he is giving it up for. It will not be the last time the teacher asks Peter to follow.
After three years of devotion, Peter denies knowing his friend when he sees him arrested.  Not surprisingly, the Bible says Peter now followed Jesus, "at a distance." Fear can do that. Then he hears those words a second time: "Follow me." Do they sound different from the way they did 1000 days ago on the shore? Is his nervousness replaced with horror? After all, this time his risen Lord is asking Peter to follow him where no man wants to go. Can Jesus still be trusted to lead?
Jesus never stops asking us to follow. He'll keep walking and keep on leading, certainly stopping along the way to allow us to rest, cry, or dance. He doesn’t move ahead just to leave us alone where we are. He walks away to take us someplace new. Not to improve ourselves, but to make us more like Him.
Parents, we take a risk when we lead our children. There's a chance they
won't follow. Peter decided following Jesus was worth dropping his net and
leaving his boat behind. It is a risk still worth taking today. Our Lord
is worth following. The question for our children is…are we?  

1 Comment
pat r
6/19/2014 03:31:16 pm

There is such strength in "faith"

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    about the writer...

    Andrew is thankful he's had the opportunity to do some cool things so far... drummer and lead singer in a rock 'n' roll band, TV Sports Reporter, and earn a couple of Master's degrees along the way. He's glad he has a great wife to help him navigate parenthood, especially now that his boys are chasing around a little sister. He hopes this site helps you grow closer to God and your children.
     

    Archives

    July 2015
    June 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012

    Categories

    All
    Amazing Rescue
    A Mother's Tribute To Her Daughter
    Are We Like King Saul?
    Baseball Card Theology
    Beating Depression
    Believing God
    Best Way To Be The Best Dad
    Conquering Sin
    Feeding On The Word
    Finding God In The Darkness
    Getting To God
    God Get Me Out Of This Mess
    God's Costume Party
    Guarding The Door
    Handling Pain
    Inside The Manger
    Man's Greatest Role
    Meditation
    Parenting Advice From The Expert
    Parenting Strategy You Learned From Jesus
    Quick Advice On Being A Great Husband
    Samson
    Standing At The Crucifiction
    Taking His Hand
    The Bible's 3 Most Important Words
    The Glorious Pain Of Prayer
    Unbroken's Louis Zamperini
    What Jesus Really Wants
    Where Are You God?
    Who Are You Most Like In The Bible?
    Would Jesus Be A Christian?
    You're Not Your Kid's Buddy
    Your Place In The Nativity Scene

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.