My middle child, Luke, turns 23 today!  That sentence seems like someone else should be writing it, since it seems like just yesterday MY Luke was 13.  Linda and I have been blessed with three children who are no longer children but adults.

While I haven’t been the parent of adult children for super long, I am going to share 5 of the blessings I have experienced in having adult children.  I hear many people talk about the challenges of children along the way, but today I want to focus on the blessings.

1.  They All Survived Childhood

While this is kinda the baseline of blessings, I am grateful that all three of my children made it through the dangers of childhood, the tumultuous times of adolescence, and the socially challenging times of high school.  It is worth thanking God for even the most basic of things.  I am glad that all my children are still around.

2.  I Get to See Them Learn and Grow

Adam used to load the cargo onto his wooden train sets and then push them along the tracks.  Now Adam drives a big rig moving the real goods of this nation.  Luke was always passionate about  music and had a knack for sounds.  Now I get to listen to one of his radio shows every Saturday. (His two other time slots are during my work time).  Leah, who always was up early since she was little and used to watch me drink my coffee, is starting a new position making coffee for the community of Mattawan.  Seeing them follow their passions is such a blessing.

3.  I Get to be a Consultant

The shift from childhood to adulthood changes the role of a parent.  I am no longer an authority to obey, but I am now a consultant on retainer.  I seek to avoid unsolicited advice, but instead seek to offer advice when asked.  This is a challenge for a pastor  (and a wife who is a teacher).  But it is a blessing to be able to step back and watch them spread their wings.  AND . . . I’ve been able to keep my consultancy fee pretty low.

4.  Spending Time Together Has Become Sweeter

When we are able to be together, the time is sweeter because it is more scarce.  Our trip to Hawaii together to celebrate our 30th anniversary at the start of the year was so much fun.  And it is a more enhanced blessing because it is rare for the six of us to be all together!

5.  I Get to See Other Facets of God’s Grace

I have learned things I never could’ve learned without raising kids to adulthood.  Not only have I learned things about myself, and not only have my own kids directly taught me things; but my knowledge of the God who calls Himself Father has been enhanced by my experience as a father.  How he must grieve over my bad decisions.  How much joy He must feel when I follow His ways.  God is THE Father, while I am merely a father.  And yet raising my kids to adulthood has been a lesson in fatherhood that I have lived and not just merely heard about or read about.

Today is a day when my family celebrates 23 years of our middle son, Luke!  I am so amazed and blessed to have a front-row seat to the development of a man!  That God would use me in all my ups and downs, and failures and successes to father this guy from childhood to adulthood has been such a blessing!  I cannot take credit for the fine young man he’s become.  But I can count it a blessing that he is my son!