And She's Off

We’re taking Lauren to Wheaton today. She is going to a week of Spiritual development and Leadership camp. We won’t actually move her in until next weekend, but she won’t be coming home – so this is it.

We’ve been pretty blue as it’s set in. I won’t lie to you. I put a sign on my door that says, “Don’t bug me. My kid grew up too fast and I’m not happy.”

I was just taking a walk and reflecting (cause for pause). I went to the north lobby of the worship center. I could hear them working on the new administration space above me and see them working on the new parking lot in front of me. It was one of those moments when I get to feel proud of this place here and what God has done.

And it was then that a thought came to me. I think it was God – it was definitely God – saying “hey this is cool, but the most important thing I gave you to do was raise your kids.” I’ve said it a million times, and preached it a few, but I do believe it. No matter what your job, your ministry, your ambition in life – if you are a parent, the number one responsibility is to give your kids every opportunity to follow God’s plan for their life. It’s still up to them to follow and not all of them will – but this is really what it’s all about.

What makes me blog about it, is the need I feel to thank you as a church and thank the elders and the staff for recognizing that I’m first a husband and then a dad and then your pastor.

The elders have always been supportive and never demanding of my schedule as this church has grown. The staff is amazing – especially those who have been around taking up slack forever like Lonnie and Vickie and Sean. And you as a church have been so great about taking care of us and allowing Denise and I to work here and serve here, but never asked us to sacrifice our kids for Parkview.

I just want to say thanks for that. Thank you for being so much a part of Lauren’s life, and letting her be part of yours.

And to the children’s workers and youth workers that have poured into Lauren’s life – thank you!

We don’t know what the future holds for her, but I’m just thankful to have been allowed to work and stay for 18 years in such a great place to raise my family. As a PK, I don’t think she could have had it any better!

Off we go…living forward,

Tim

Comments

[Beth K]

I want to thank you for raising Lauren (and your other two girls) so well, which can be so difficult as "PK's" in such a turbulent world. She has taught my daughter Rebekah in kindergarten Kidz Connection this past year. Bekah brought in a picture she colored for Lauren this past weekend, and it touched me that Lauren said it was gonna make her cry, and that she'd put it up on her wall at college. How sweet is that?! So thank YOU! :)

[Ed Bahler]

Tim,

I've had four daughters leave our home. Tough stuff each time. But be encouraged, girls come home often. Your girls will always be daddy's girls...always. It truly is wonderful when they bring home those special guys with them. It just keeps getting richer.

Ed