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My firstborn son also writes, mixing melody and honesty. Like what happens with many good poets and songwriters, his nonfiction life displays drama. Taylor gave his testimony to a group of youths. Friends told me what he said, and I asked for a written version of his thoughts. From his heart to mine, I received it.
    Read Taylor’s honesty:

When I first found out how ill my father had become, anger and fear rushed through my body. I was so young. To have something like that happen to my father was cold and merciless. I began to blame God as my father struggled to return to his normal self. We knew it would take lots of time, but it was hard to respect Him. It felt as if He didn’t know as much as I did. And for a while, He didn’t.

I began to turn to my girlfriend for attention and replaced God as being Lord of my life with her. She had my attention, my focus and all my time. I left God and my family in the dark. For two years, I had an on and off terrible relationship until one day God broke me. I spent that day sobbing on my knees and crying out for repentance. I had to leave old friends and many selfish things behind and follow Christ again. Yes, it hurt for a while, but not as much as sin was hurting me and my future. I was able to restore my relationship with my father and gain respect for my family once again.

Now, having God back in control and as Lord of my life, I feel that I have a freedom like never before. Now Dad and I look back and learn from what went wrong and work together to encourage our family and others. I know he is there to encourage me in my dreams and calling. Thank You, God, and thank you, Dad, for giving me a second chance.

Taylor also typed a personal addition just to me. He wrote, “There you go, man. I hope you don’t cry at all.” He knew better. He knew I would cry. A few years before, I didn’t know Taylor would still love his crying father. Now it was like rest for the weary.

Rest for the weary

Excerpted from Chris Maxwell’s book Changing My Mind: A Journey of Disability and Joy (LifeSprings Resources, 2005). Chris Maxwell is an author, a speaker, director of Spiritual Life and a dad of three.

Questions to Ponder:

•    What thoughts come to your mind as a father when you read this story?
•    If you faced a life-threatening, life-changing illness, what would your children write?
•    What do you wish your children would write?
•    What can you do today to begin helping your children to prepare for life’s disappointments?
•    How can you be there for them when they make poor decisions during seasons of sadness, loneliness, unanswered prayers, fear and anger?
•    How can you establish patterns for your children to learn healthy ways of finding “rest” when they feel “weary”?

www.chrismaxwellweb.com

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