My son Jeremy was home for Mother's Day. That meant that for a couple of meals all 5 of the Coffey clan were together. It was a reminder for me of what I think was the favorite chapter of my life. I know there are other chapters to come but the chapter of tucking the kids into bed and having them all here has come to a close. I have really loved this chapter. In a few weeks my daughter Rachel will get married. I love her fiance and I think it is a great thing. The bets are on as to whether I will crack during the ceremony like a dry twig. If I do it won't be because I am sad about the wedding. It will be because as I watch my daughter slip a ring onto a young man's hand and have him slip one on hers, I will be watching my favorite chapter up to this point close. So, if I throw myself on the ground sobbing, those of you in the next chapter come up and tell me how good it is. I will try to believe you. Once again I am convinced of a great truth. The price of love is pain. It is a reminder of the love of God. To love, really love, means a willingness to experience pain even if it is just the pain of watching time roll on. I have thought for a while that a courageous prayer is to pray for God to increase my capacity for pain so I can love more people with a greater depth. That is my prayer as a Dad and my prayer as a pastor today.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
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9 comments:
A great post, Joe, and a great way to look at things. Unfortunately, I don't know anything about the chapter you're entering. You might ask Jim, however. Rumor has it, he's really getting up there!
Hi Joe,
The last chapter is great. That's when they start to take care of you.
Pastor Joe,
I often find myself thinking and praying about how to handle that chapter of my life when it comes. My daughter is only 10, but it seems like yesterday we were driving to the hospital to have her and now she is turning into a little women. I also find being a younger father, it seems to bother me more. The fact that by the time I am 40 my daugter will be twenty and my son would be eighteen and that chapter of my life will have already passed. Some people may see it as an advantage, but I am not quite sure?? Good to know I am not alone
As a mom, I am not at this "chapter" yet either, but I loved this chapter with my own parents. It isn't until I got married and had children that I really began to know my parents. I treasure my childhood memories, but nothing can compete with finally having a true friendship with my mom and dad!!!
Well you've got ME on the ground already sobbing - for you/yours and me/mine! Thanks for taking me to all kinds of places that are both painful and pain-free as my pastor! We love you!
Joe, your mother and I can assure you that the best is yet to come. We, too, thought that the childhood chapter of you and your brothers was as good as it was going to get. We were wrong. The best chapter is when you see your children actively serving Christ and raising their children to serve Christ. With a son in heaven and two sons as pastors...I am the richest man in town!
Though it is premature to be thinking of this, grandchildren are an unbelievably wonderful chapter of life. Keep going . . . you will find there are many fantastic chapters to come.
jean, you crack me up. you are in charge of pulling me up off the ground and telling me it is going to be ok.
Won't be long before I'm at the point you are. In a way I'm not looking forward to it but in another way I am. I hate to think of losing my "little" girls but I am looking forward to when they call me asking, "Why won't my kids listen to me?" That's when I can act like my mother and say how cute my grandchildren are and I can just keep spoiling them!!
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