“When all is said and done and our histories with Jesus are fully written, the most precious gift we will have offered any fellow human will have been a chance to glorify God.
Doug and I extend our deepest condolences to the family of Corey Comperatore, who was tragically killed at former President Trump’s rally. He was a husband, father, and firefighter who was shielding his family from gunfire. Our hearts break for this loss from yesterday’s abhorrent violence.
In light of so many hot takes with such little understanding, I’m reposting this.
Choose:
Patience over reactivity.
Complexity over simplicity.
Hospitality over hostility.
I want to tell you wonderful dads of daughters something. It’s a bit niche but I hope so much it will bless and encourage you. I have worked and continue to work with women of all ages for 40 years, elementary school girls to women in their 80s and 90s. It has been the privilege of my life. And here is what I can tell you based on my experience and observation.
Nothing has a greater impact on a little girl regarding her passage into adulthood than a dad
who loves her unconditionally,
who sees far beyond her external appearance to the truest beauty and strength within her,
WHO DOES NOT COMMENT ON HER WEIGHT OR POLICE HER EATING,
with whom she is utterly safe in every way,
who laughs with her and really sees her,
who fights hypocrisy and let’s her have the unspeakable gift of trust that he is the same no matter where he is or what he is doing,
who shows up and is there (never let anyone convince you that it’s just about quality time),
Who shows her compassion when she’s down and does not burst her bubble when she’s up.
who does not just show her love but also puts it into words AND not only puts it into words but also shows her.
Perfect parenting is a myth. In my view, even the fab parenting on Instagram is a damaging myth. By the grace of God, however, loving in word and deed is not a myth. And being the same person at home and in public is not a myth.
Untold numbers of us would have given anything to have had a dad like many of you and not having one had serious repercussions. I could see along the way how different women were who had a stable, loving father. And such are many of you.
So I celebrate you loving dads of daughters today. Daughters can be quite the ride but a good dad will be a gift to her every day of her life and long after you are gone.
Bless you, daughter-dad! And happy Father’s Day!
Want to tell you loves something. I know some of you were and are waiting for my thoughts on recent events and I have a lot of them which is one reason why I haven’t shared them publicly. I’ve had plenty of conversations in private. In my family group, diverse opinions and complex thoughts are not anathema.
Thing is, y’all, so few people read anymore. They read into. They hunt down gotcha phrases to fit their narratives of you.
And, let’s be frank, nuance is considerably above X’s IQ.
My thoughts about the current event are complicated and not well suited here. I will say this much and leave it here. I believe in justice for all. I do mean all. Even people who make the hair stand up on the back of my neck. If that’s what’s underway here, good. I’m for it. Then make it apply across the board. If it’s not justice, then all they’re doing is making a megalomaniac a bigger cult hero.
What I think is that Washington is a mess. An embarrassing mess. A TROUBLING mess. Your basic person spending 30 days in county has more scruples than many of our nation’s leaders. My faith is in Christ alone.
Last thing. It’s occurred to me recently that I’m dealing with residual effects of a very intense eight years of embodied stress that has played havoc on me physically. My gracious God has me in a recovering mode with him. I’m protecting some of my peace so I can get well. And it’s working. He’s working. Oh mercy, I love him so. He has been so merciful to me.
And I love y’all. This is written specifically to my friends on here because all I’m going to get from my opponents is “BUT …!”
And right now I’m just wanting to deal with a few less buts.
The primary reason I am leaving the SBC
Is because leaders in high places have consistently worked against abuse reform
While a church is about to be disfellowshipped for having a female Pastor to Children and Women
The priorities could not be more opposed to the way of Jesus