I Appreciate You

Woke up in the morning. "Let's decorate our patio!" I said to my wife. So we bought potflowers, with names I never heard of... and I bought 3 little plants, pepper, tomato, cucumber, one for each of my sons, Caleb, Joshua and Philip.

I was the best instinct killer of all things alive. Fishes, plants... all dead under my caring. This time should be different. To my boys, this time has to be different.

So why should I still buy some little plants to grow? I think it originates from Mother's Day(May 8th). We were all very touched on that Sunday Morning. At the end of the service, we huddled together, praised each other, prayed for each other.

Because we all realized what it meant to be "I appreciate you." We all understood we were much indebted to the love and caring of others.

This began not so much with Mother's Day... yeah maybe. But definitely we were inspired by studying how Barnabas accepted Paul when he was just a new but rejected believer.

Before we started the bible study on Sunday, the kids were asked to read the passage (Acts 9:20-31)by themselves a few days ago. They were given a paper to write down 2-3 points about "Accepting People" from the text. They, including Philip, all did it diligently - Yeah, a bit hard for Philip!

When we came on Sunday, everyone had something to share. I was no more amazed to hear their wonderful sharing. From time to time, we learn God really speaks to kids. They really have the same Holy Spirit in them that we should listen with fear. This is one amazing discovery of us from gathering as simple church. We let the Holy Spirit to guide our sharing and these are our discovery from that passage:

• In accepting people, we (Barnabas) let them (Paul) tell their stories.



• In accepting people, we listen them with hearts.



• In accepting people, we need the hearts of love.



• People will be hurt if we do not accept them.

Isn't it amazing? They were from the kids. Isn't it simple? Simple. And very much on target.

Then we moved from the last point to "What if Barnabas rejected Paul?" "If so, what would Paul become?" During the introduction, we all contributed our knowledge of how great Apostle Paul was? Philip said, "He wrote Galatians." Caleb started to list, "Colossians, Philippians, Corinthians..." They knew Paul brought many many people to Christ. So it is not hard for them to imagine the answers: "He would no more trust God!" "His faith would die down!" "He would never become that great!"

The image of a little plant came to my mind. And I started to develop it, "We see Paul finally become a big big tree of faith. But when he was a new believer, he was like everyone, a little plant of faith. He needed encouragement and acceptance to grow. If Barnabas were like the others, feared him and isolated him. Then Paul would be very discouraged. And he might never be able to grow and become a big tree. Paul was so much indebted to Barnabas...

I think what happened one day in heaven is this: We'll see Paul stand before Jesus Christ, with million of people he brought to faith standing behind him. And we'll see Barnabas stand before Jesus as well. Maybe with only a thousand people he brought to faith standing behind him. When Paul meets Barnabas, I think he will say to Barnabas, "Brother, thank you so much for accepting me. If it weren't you there for me..." Paul started to turn to the millions behind him and said to Barnabas, "This will never happen. Thank you, brother, it all because of you. I appreciate you so much..." Jesus would turn to Barnabas and said, "Yes, Paul was right. You've done a great job, son."

I was very much touched by what I said at that moment. Definitely it was from God. Caleb left his chair, eyes red, rushed to Mom. Wanted to hug Mom. I stopped him. Bible study not finished - what a foolish and stubborn Dad! He went back.
I continued, "We need to accept people like what Barnabas did. Then people can grow up..." Caleb suddenly had an insight, "It's like the Sun and water. They help the little plant to grow up and become a big tree. Barnabas was the Sun and water."

This image really captured me. And suddenly it melted with our expectations and hope for bringing up kids. So I said, "3 of you are like little plants. It is not easy for us to raise you. But we work hard to learn. And we pray and pray and pray. We want to see one day these little plants become a big and strong trees of faith for God..." Joshua jammed in, "I know I know. Mom and Dad are like the Sun and the water. We need the Sun and the water to grow big."

"Yes. You are right. We want to grow you into a big big strong tree for the Kingdom. 3 big big strong trees of faith on earth. One day when we see you again in heaven... we see Philip, you, bring with you million of souls to God. And you Joshua, another million. And Caleb, a million. And we see you all become such a big big tree for God. We will be so happy and proud..."

Caleb again. He stood up. He cried. He cried heavily...

Usually he does it when he thinks others are unfair to him, brothers are unfair to him, Mom and Dad are unfair... He cries as he thinks others are indebted to him. But this time is very different. First time to my memory.

He rushed to Mom, crying. Hugged Mom. While saying, "Thank you Mom."

Clouds of appreciation and gratitude embedded us. We all stood in circle. Hands in Hands or hands on other's hairs, each thanked others. We all gave thanks with prayer. A family in bond of love and appreciation towards one another. God was there.

Probably because of this powerful encounter and probably because of Summer close by, days after, we bought the little plants.

I believe there is a divine purpose for being a Christian parent. At least this is my strong conviction. We don't raise them to be a lawyer, except a strong Christian lawyer. We don't raise them a doctor, except a strong Christian doctor. We don't raise them to a so and so... except a strong Christian so and so. It only matters if they are a strong Christian. We will not feel indebted to our kids if they never been to Disneyland or on a cruise, got a Harvard MBA or CGA...

But our hearts will be broken if they only live for themselves, not solely for Jesus. If they settle for being a mediocre Christian, not a true follower of Jesus with passion and love. If they care much for what to eat, what to drink, where to have fun, than pursuing and living out God's purpose for them on earth. This will make us sad.

We love them too much not to raise them up only to Jesus. We love Jesus too much not to grow them up solely for His kingdom.

What if they don't?!

God has mercy. Christ has mercy. And we labor.