Picture This

The following drama is a blend of prayers of parents.

Dad 1:  Lord, he’s here and I’m nervous. This is the first son.  Two daughters but the first son… I look at his picture and realize all the things he’s going to go through.

Mom 1: Two! You gave us two! Lord, there are so many feelings of inadequacy.

Mom 2:  I like the pictures because she is just so still! Not running around.  She stays in the frame so well. But in real life she’s a blur of activity and emotion.

Dad 1:  Dependency.

Dad 2: Stubbornness.

Mom 1: Questions.

Dad 1:  Noise!

Mom 2:  LUNACY!

Dad 2: Driving around in the car to get him to sleep.

Mom 2:  The skinned knees of two years ago have turned into the tears of inferiority-  and she’s only 11.

Mom 1: And to think college tuition is only 9 years away! I just can’t picture it.

Dad 1:  Lord, I get the picture. I’m going to have to change a thing or two. No more overtime shifts when I can avoid them.  Lord, I need your help to change! He’s asking questions and the most difficult ones are the ones that I know the answer.

Dad 2: Am I going to worry this much? He’s only 3 and already I’m playing through worse-case scenarios. Lord, I picture him with all my bad traits and none of my good.

Mom 2:  What about the first date. Should I let her date when she’s 16? 17? 18?  My parents let me date when I was 15 and that was waaaaay too young.

Mom 1: Lord, he’s such a miracle. We had practically given up on having kids and then You really came through. But now I’m doubting myself. It’s affecting everything especially my marriage.

Mom 2:  Help me focus.

Dad 1:  Help me get the picture of a godly father

Mom 1: A godly mother

Dad 2: A godly marriage

Mom 2:  A godly family.

Mom 1: I desperately need a picture of your will.

Scene Two

To be used after the sermon

Dad 2: Lord, I look back on the years they were small

Mom 1:  I realize that you carried me through. You gave me a vision.

Dad 1: Now the torch has been passed.

Dad 2: He’s got his own kids now. My grandkids! Now that I would have never pictured back then, but they’re here and they are wonderful!

Dad 1: Thank You for the wisdom.

Mom 1:  Thank You for forgiveness.

Dad 2: Thank you, Father God, for the grace.

Mom 1:  That carried us through so that we could see the miracle of life.

Dad 2: You are worthy.

Mom 2: We still have two on earth and one whom we can only picture in heaven. We felt sorrow that I’d never believe we’d survive.  But it was worth it. It was worth it all.

Dad 2: We understand better your sacrifice as you gave your one and only son to us.

Amen.