Birthdays and Blankets

How do we invite our children into the larger story? Well, what exactly is the larger story of life. We are broken/messed up people. God is the Hero of our stories and steps in to redeem our hearts and lives. He does what we are not able to do through Jesus, His Son. We then enter a daily battle to live in freedom and co-author our stories with God. We are given the privilege to pen our days under the banner of God's authority.

So, how we do help our children to see brokenness, redemption, battle, and authority? Wow, that is quite a question to wrestle with. Melody and I have been wrestling with this for a while. Seeking to live this life before them and invite them to join us. What does it mean to live this life together...as a family. What does it look like to be a family that is dangerous to the enemy and his desires?

Caleb turned 5 last April and Brennan turned 2 in June. Because we were in transition and moving, we were not able to have birthday parties for them. So, at the end of July we are having a brothers birthday bash (BBB). But instead of gifts, we are inviting our friends to bring money for blankets. Blankets for orphans in Lesotho, Africa. Though we are in hot, summer months here in the states...Africa is in the midst of winter season. The country of Lesotho, in south Africa, is a place that God has led Encounter Humanity (a branch of Encounter) to work. We are working with Aids orphans and local pastors to meet needs there. The big need right now...BLANKETS. The temps at night dip into the 20's and many children do not have heat, warmth, or blankets. For only $5, we can purchase a blanket for one child.

So, whatever money friends would spend on gifts, they can bring to buy blankets. Whatever we collect will be put toward bringing warmth to these children's lives. It does not seem like much but maybe we can help out a few lives and bring the warmth of God's grace to a child.

We talked with Caleb and lil' B about doing this and explained what we were thinking. We said, "You know we have lots of toys and stuff, don't we? Why don't we help some children out who don't have much. Why don't we ask our friends to bring money for buying blankets to help children in south Africa who are very cold right now. We will still have cake, play together, and have fun. " Brennan's response...all he heard was CAKE...so he's OK. Caleb's response...that sounds good, so i can still get presents next year, right?

The larger story...for our children to begin to see how God wants to use us to help others. For them to see their own brokenness...how selfish and greedy we can be. Our culture tends to feed this appetite, doesn't it? And to see God come through...providing for them and for the needs of others. As a parent, I must fight for the hearts of my children. As a dad, I have to take up the sword daily and battle for my children. The current of this world is strong and will draw them out into their deep waters. Ultimately, the enemy wants them...steal, kill, destroy. And he loves to use our Americanized, stuff-surrounding, greedy culture to do it. Be busy, have your stuff, retire, and die...that's the American dream. Instead, I choose to do battle.

Someone once referred to our children as jellyfish...unable to determine their direction but going with whatever current/flow they are placed in. Though the world's ways are strong, I choose to draw my children into the larger story. May they not be caught up in the smallness of stuff, toys, grasping, and arranging. May something simple like birthdays and blankets remind them of something greater going on...Someone greater who is at work.