These were the words of my college roommate, Paul McNamara, who worshiped with us last Sunday along with three of his six children. They only thought they were escaping cold weather on their way to the beach for Spring Break! I’m hoping things warm up for them during the week. Paul and his wife Margaret reside in Champaign, IL where Paul serves as a professor of agriculture and economics at the University of Illinois. Four of their six children they adopted - Joseph, Jonathan, Sarah and David. These four are special needs children.
As we enjoyed lunch together after our worship service Sunday, I noticed how graciously Paul dealt with each child around the lunch table – from helping them order off the menu, to answering random questions, to explaining the worship service they’d just attended. Friends, I saw Jesus in my friend Paul. Never did he lose his patience. Never did he speak abruptly or unkindly. Not once did he show any signs of frustration. I’m sure I would have done all of the above. But Paul demonstrated the heart of Christ to his children as their loving earthly father. I admire him and I’m so proud of him!
Paul spoke from his heart about what it’s like to parent these children. He said, “It’s good, but hard.” I see it and I get it. What he and Margaret are doing is noble. Adopting these children and discipling them in a godly home is a tangible expression of Christ’s love that brings glory to God.
I’m challenged to ponder, pray, repent, and obey when I see something that would be good to do, but I refrain because it’s hard. Surely, ‘good, but hard’ is the way of a disciple because ‘good, but hard’ is the way of Jesus.
And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24)
Thank You, Jesus for taking on the ‘hard’ so that we might receive the ‘good’ of forgiveness, life, and love! Strengthen me to step into the hard for the good of others and Your glory.
Cecil Sanders