Over the last few weeks, my son Cameron and I have been working on endurance and strength training as he prepares to enlist in the Air Force and head off to basic training at the end of the summer. One way that I have been supporting him is to do his exercise, runs, jogs, etc. together. Since COVID-19, I have tried to become more physically fit and go for a jog almost every day, BUT these workouts… they are something entirely different—they are TOUGH! During this journey, we have had to build each other up when it gets difficult and celebrate when we have finished for the day. I have come to have a much stronger relationship with my son because we are spending time doing something together that supports him in the decisions he is making for his life. (If you are interested in joining Cameron and me on this journey and would like to participate in the workouts, I can gladly email you the weekly schedule of exercises so that you too can support Cameron at your own time and pace).
For those of you who may not know, in 2016 I became a foster parent to my son and daughter when they were 13 and 10 years old, before eventually adopting them in 2018. Since I did not have the opportunities to grow and support them when they were infants through adulthood, I am sometimes… Okay… almost always, overly involved and supportive of whatever they do. I am pretty sure this drives my kids nuts. As a parent, it can be a challenge to figure out how to best support our children when they are making big decisions or preparing for the next phases of their lives. We worry that maybe we are overly involved or not involved enough. We worry about how their choices now can have a far-reaching impact in the future. We worry about everything; however, God reminded me of something.
In all of the running, stretching, and exercising, I was reminded that the relationship I have with my son is similar to the one that God has for us as His children. God wants to be involved in our lives as much as possible, supporting every decision, cheering us on in our triumphs and holding us when we are in the valleys of life. God wants to be involved in the stretching, running, and exercising. As Philippians 4:19 (CEB) reminds us, “My God will meet your every need out of his riches in the glory that is found in Christ Jesus.” As a parent wants to meet the needs of their children, regardless if they are infants, adults, or somewhere in between, God wants to meet our needs too.
Are there needs in your life that you want God to meet? Are there areas of your life that you want God to support and become an active part of? I invite you to start a conversation with God about these things. Tell God what is on your heart. Similar to us as parents, God already knows those needs and has been waiting to come into your life to meet them.
Blessings dear friends!
Mitch Hortert
Church Council Chair
Photo by Thomas Bunton