All The
Difference In The World
USGN Article - December 2000
Terry & Barbi Franklin
Written by Terry Franklin
It's funny how small moments in our lives can make a huge difference over the
span of a lifetime. And while I haven't lived what I think is a
"lifetime" yet (at least I hope not!), I've already seen a few
tiny, black & white, "pencil sketch" moments blossom into
beautiful, vibrant, oilpainting miracles. But it hasn't happened quickly.
Thirteen years ago Barbi and I had our first child, a boy we named Tyler.
I'd like to tell you that his name had deep spiritual meaning, but truth
is...we just liked the name.
As most new parents usually do, we very quickly arranged a
"system": Who does what, and when. Since I didn't
have the equipment to do the feeding, I did the other stuff...like
burping. (This brings back memories for some of you.)
One night as I was sitting in a darkened room we had decorated as a nursery,
I held Tyler and gently patted his little back. And I prayed for
him. I thought of how fragile this tiny child was and prayed
that he would be safe, and that he would walk in faith all his days. I
thought of all the things that would challenge his faith in the days ahead:
The lonely nights when there seemed to be no answer, the times when others
would misunderstand his calling to be obedient to Christ, the temptation
to compromise even in small things. And what about the times
he would experience broken dreams, times of sickness, times when God
seemed far away, times of loss...I said, “Lord, How could this boy ever
learn what faith is in such a hostile world?”
At that very moment, God spoke to me and said, "He will learn
faith...as He sees it in you..."
Fathers, during this holiday season may your kids be changed forever by the
faith they see in you.
And may they, in turn, pass that faith on to others. It will make all
the difference in the world.
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©2000 Terry & Barbi Franklin.