A dear friend gave me a beautiful book by Colleen Chao after the sudden passing of my hubby, In the Hands of a Fiercely Tender God. The focus of the book is how we can find joy and hope, even in the deepest struggles and challenges of this earthly life, if we have eternal hope in Jesus.

Here is the beginning of Chapter 29, towards the end of the book, and it is titled, “Understand”:

“The Kingdom of God works backward. Jesus told us to love our enemies and bless those who persecute us. He said we find our life when we lose it. He promised that the last will be first, and the first last– and the greatest person among us will be the humblest servant.

And so it is with suffering.

What looks like the end of all hope is its very dawning. What feels like the deepest, darkest pit is really a sacred entrance into more of Christ. Our heartaches today are the labor pains before fierce joy is born. This is God’s way–a hard but beautiful way–and we sufferers often struggle to perceive and embrace it” (In the Hands of a Fiercely Tender God, p 159).

I have to be honest, this isn’t the easiest part of grace to accept….but I am truly beginning to understand it. I soaked up the last chapter….Colleen Chao focuses on eternity and heaven. I won’t reveal her story; you might want to read for yourself! She paints a biblical image of heaven and tries to put in perspective the difference between this flash of time we call “life on earth” and the eternity we will dwell in FOREVER. I read it over and over again. The blink of an eye here. Forever there. Forever and ever.

I was talking with another dear friend today who also lost her husband recently. We both agreed that after being in the presence of the Lord, and given the choice, that neither of our husbands would choose to return here….even to their dearest loved ones.

I honestly believe this.

So, how does this idea of loss and suffering tie into “booking time with our kiddoes?” Well, I think we have to teach them how to live “backwards”. We have to model it too. We have to teach them how to be kind to those who are not kind to them. We have to teach them how to serve others- helping at home, reaching out to friends, serving with church missions and youth activities, etc. We have to model what Jesus did, and he literally got on the ground and washed the feet of his disciples! We may also need to live a bit backwards by denying some of the ideas of modern American culture by limiting screen time, apps, and devises, and choosing differently.

We can’t be “of this world” and also be “of Christ” right? I believe it was easier for my generation to shelter and protect our littles; today’s parents have extraordinary challenges in teaching Biblical living. We can and should use books and Bible stories to teach our children the ways of Christ. Hardships will come. Suffering will come to all of us, including our children. It’s crucial for us as parents/grandparents to lay a foundation in what’s eternal and to prepare them to live with confidence in Christ.

These lyrics come to me often; “Rain came, wind blew, but my house was built on You. I’m safe with you, I’m going to make it through” (Cody Carnes, Firm Foundation). It’s only by living backwards, and not by listening to the clamor of this world, that our kiddoes will find peace. Let’s select books to help US help THEM.

Thanks Danette, the book you selected for me really made an impact.

THANKS for reading! Please subscibe for a weekly idea of how we can BOOK TIME WITH OUR KIDS!