I danced with my oldest daughter a couple of weekends ago. She flew in for the wedding of a close friend and it was so good to see her. The last time I danced with Kinsey was at her own wedding this past July. Father and daughter danced to “Butterfly Kisses” and there were many tears of joy. Sitting on my bedroom floor early in 1989 with a tiny dark haired baby girl asleep in my arms, I did not imagine the day I would walk her down the aisle. “Precious memories… how they linger… how they ever flood my soul…”
Throughout history, as God has watched people-group fight against people-group and tribe war against tribe, I wonder if He’s thought: “It might have been better if we would have created just one race of humans.” But aren’t we thankful for differences? Parents with more than one child have probably considered: “Things would be a lot more peaceful and less stressful if we just had one.” But aren’t the struggles worth the rewards?
Taylor and Kinsey argued constantly growing up. From the time Kinsey could walk and talk, her big brother taught her to compete. Playing baseball in the front yard, Kinsey took off her shirt just like all the boys in the neighborhood (this is when she was little, of course). Whatever brother did, little sister wanted to do. Taylor was bigger and stronger, but I’m afraid Kinsey was a little smarter, so the conflicts were often intense. A memorable ‘discipline’ memory occurred one summer day after I told the kids we were going to a Braves’ baseball game. This was a total spur-of-the-moment treat so when I came to the car and saw Taylor and Kinsey fighting and arguing about sitting in the front seat, I said: “OK, that’s it. Because you guys can’t get along we’re not going to the game.” There was weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth, but nothing would change the father’s mind. “Angry words… O let them never… from the tongue unbridled slip…”
So what’s the reward? No greater joy comes to a mother or father as when their children love one another. It may have taken hours of lectures and years of consequences, but I think I can say with all honesty that all our children really do love one another. A good friend gave Kinsey two buddy passes to take a trip after her high school graduation. I was confident my beautiful graduate would take her father on a little vacation, but who did she invite? Her older brother! As Taylor and Kinsey traipsed through Italy and France as best friends, Susan and I trusted our son and daughter to protect one another and we thanked God for children.
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1
“It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” II John 4-6