I have just taken the last Christmas guests to the airport. The house in the forest is quiet and peaceful. It has been amazingly peaceful all the time though, but not quiet. With grandchildren in the house it would be something very wrong if it was quiet. The house has been full of joy and all the sounds that go with it.
The house feels empty, but the joy still fills the heart. I thank God for the privilege of being a father. This year only our two wonderful daughters came home for Christmas, but I am proud of all my children. I thank God for each and everyone. They fill my heart with joy.
All our children have grown up and established their own homes long ago. Many of our grandchildren are teenagers. I still remember when our children and grandchildren were small, that was a lovely time. But there is greater joy in seeing them grow up and mature. It brings greater joy to see a son or a daughter be a good father or mother, than sharing in the fleeting joys of the children. It brings even greater joy to see grandchildren behaving well and following Jesus wholeheartedly, than to play and laugh with the small ones. Bringing sons and daughters to glory is the greatest joy of fatherhood.
The joy of fatherhood grows deeper and deeper as the years pass by and your children and grandchildren make wise choices and show covenant love in many different ways. The joy of fatherhood never comes to an end, because your sons and daughters are constantly conformed to the image of Christ. The joy of fatherhood increases, as grandchildren are born, and grow and mature, and eventually become the parents of our great grandchildren. There is no end to the joy of fatherhood because it is extended to more and more offspring.
However, fatherhood is not limited to biology or your natural offspring. We can be fathers and mothers to countless people. The only limitation is our capacity to love and care, to show interest and give encouragements. When we are spiritual fathers and mothers we share in a deeper joy than any words can describe.
