Dear Babies,
(Yes, I can still call you babies, even though some of you are grown. You will always be my babies, no matter how much you grow.)
There are so many voices around you. So many voices influencing the way you should think, believe, and feel. I know it’s confusing. I know they can be loud and often misleading. I don’t want you to be misled, sweet ones. I want so much for you, but it is so different from what the world wants for you.
The world will tell you that it’s OK to put yourself first. That your decisions should be based on your feelings, and whatever “feels right” to you must be. It’s not so, kids, it’s just not so. Jesus had a different idea of this, and scripture tells us:
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. – Phil. 2:3
Put others first. See the marginalized and the underprivileged. Notice their needs and then act to meet them. Reach out to the struggling. Offer a hand up. Care for the orphan and the widow. Befriend the child on the playground who is being left out. Stand up to the bully who is unkind. Sacrifice to serve those around you, and think of them before yourselves.
The world will tell you that you should do what makes you happy. But do you know that doing what is right is often hard? The better thing is not always the easy thing, and sometimes it won’t make you happy. Happiness is fleeting, a temporary feeling , or momentary pleasure. Happiness is the thrill of a new job or the excitement of a great opportunity. It doesn’t last, and honestly, my greatest wish for you is not happiness.
What I wish for you is contentment. Contentment will appear as peace when you are doing the right thing, even if it proves to be the most difficult. Contentment does not depend on things going your way, what things you have, or what your circumstances are. Contentment comes from living a life of gratitude, and of being right with God. Contentment is being satisfied no matter your circumstances, and finding your joy in Jesus. It’s so much better than happiness.
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Cor. 12:10
