Keys To The Building
Photo by Nerene Grobler on Unsplash
I’m an adult, parenting an adult. Before I write on, I’m waiting for y’all to say, “Hi Stephanie.” Like seriously though, is there a support group, cause I need an expedited membership. Since 1992 when I learned that I would be a parent, this journey has had me shook. It is a blessing indeed and it has caused me to call upon the Lord without question. I seriously don’t know how I would have made it otherwise. Most recently I surveyed my prayer wall. It was following a testimony our Pastor, Sharon D. Nesbit shared about answered written prayers that God performed regarding her children, who are now adults as well. I questioned the extent to which I’d written prayers down about my daughter. To my great surprise, my prayer wall was filled with prayers but 80-90% of them focused directly upon her; career, finances, wellness, community, safety, travel, happiness, companionship, supervisors and her relationship with the One I was petitioning. I have spent endless amount of hours laying my requests before my Heavenly Father - just as parents do. And…the return on investment was evident, but not always in the timing preferred. As I examined the prayers, the dates by which God did His big work, tears filled my eyes and then He reminded me of something so profound in a manner that only God could.
My brother is 10 years older than me. He too grew up in church like me, however after he finished high school and entered the world of work, his church attendance leveled out. He stopped going. He made decisions that our mother disagreed with. He chose to engage in behavior that did not reflect what our sheltered, obedient, “follow the rules” silent generation hailing mother would understand, let alone support. For many years, while he never spoke against us going to church, he chose not to. I cannot speak on his relationship with God but I’m confident it wasn’t a priority. Now, as my brother reminded me one day, “I have the keys to the building.” Not just any building, but his church. We laughed. He shared that he’s called so much for rehearsal and other tasks, they just gave him keys. To think, he went from not attending anybody’s church to having the responsibility of opening up God’s house for others.
God needed to remind me (and perhaps you) that it may feel like we as parents are locked out to the portions we feel led to understand but in time and through God, we will have access to exactly what God needs for us to have. Further, just as God carried our parents or guardians through our hard places, He has an uncanny ability to do the same for us. So fret not fellow circle friends, let us remain connected to support one another in our grief, our sorrow, our frustration, our “let me break out the vaseline” emotions, but more importantly, let us remain connected to God who loves us and our children, without question. He is our open door. No keys required.