Passing it on

Sports fans were touched by the TV news report yesterday of the Dad who caught a foul ball at the Phillies game and gave it to his little daughter. She took the ball and immediately flung it back toward the playing field! Then the Dad enveloped her in a big hug when she realized that perhaps she had made a mistake. Later, fortunately, they got a baseball, but the real point was that soothing, forgiving, comforting embrace. Even if the Dad was disappointed not to have that baseball (he'd dreamed of catching one at a game), the love for his little girl was far more important than that.

It occurs to me that some of the things we value as parents are not necessarily as highly regarded by our children, young or older. This little girl didn't know the importance of that baseball to her Dad, or she never would have thrown it back. And he assumed she felt the same away about it that he did. They were on different wavelengths. Sometimes it's that way between Christian parents and their children who, at least from outward appearances, may not share the same commitment to the gospel or church life.

We often hear the proverb, 'train a child in the way he/she should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.' As disciples and parents, that's what we strive to do. We want to do what we can to help our children come to a saving faith in Christ. And if that is slow in happening, or seems to be hit-and-miss, we may become discouraged. The responsibility to pass on the Christian faith to rising generations is great indeed. But underneath that need is the love that embraces, even when the ball is tossed back. That is just a glimpse of God's self-giving love for us.