Parental Pleasure

---

Deuteronomy 5:16     Honor your father and mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you

Deuteronomy 6:6-7     These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children.

Psalm 78:4     We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord his power, and the wonders he has done.

Psalm 127:3     Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

Proverbs 17:6     Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.

Proverbs 22:6     Start children off on the way they should go and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Proverbs 29:17     Discipline your children, and they will give you peace: they will bring you the delights you desire.

Ephesians 6:4     Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord 

1 Timothy 5:8     Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.  

Titus 2:7     In everything set them an example by doing what is good.

3 John 1:4     I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

 

During part of the years we lived in Germany, both sons moved back to join us when their Dad was diagnosed with cancer and needed treatments.  There was very little American TV since 23 lived on the economy, so it was either German shows, or we rented VCR (yes, a LONG time ago) movies.  Most of what the American facilities had were comedies like Dumb and Dumber, Major Payne, Animal House and so forth.  Seeing them once was just fine for me; I did not need to see them more frequently yet, that is the type of humor in movies my sons and husband loved.  And each time they watched one of those comedies, no matter how often they had seen it, they all giggled like it was the initial time they were hearing the line and seeing the silliness.  You have no idea how often I thanked God that the boys were there to watch these and entertain my husband, so I could be buried in a book, deafening out the comedy.

While there, one son worked for the motor pool on base, while the other worked for the Commissary (the grocery store for American on base).  Many people interacted with one or the other of us in our separate work environments.  I worked at the base medical clinic. 

It was almost daily that one or two of the patients in the clinic would spot my name tag, then asked if I had a son working at the commissary, or at the motor pool.  What a pleasure to hear these people say what a hard, helpful worker he was—did not matter who they were discussing, the consensus was the same.  The boys were polite, hard workers and very helpful.  At the time, both were in their early 20’s.  What a wonderful reassurance that we had raised good young men!  It was a delight to hear the praises these strangers shared with me, and after the interaction, I would just tell God how thankful I was that He had guided our steps while raising these kids and He had apparently helped us make more right decisions than wrong.  It was a blessing to hear that my children were respected for their hard working and polite work ethics.  But all the glory and thanks went to God. 

We had combined our family when the three kids were thirteen, fourteen and fifteen.  My husband had been a single parent when his first wife walked out leaving him with a two- and four-year-old.  We met when the kids were all just entering teen years; Becky was 12, Scott 13, and Justin 14.  The boys were just 7 months apart.   How blessed we were to have three teens come together, wanting to be family, and always treating one another as such.  My biological son was moving to Germany—uprooting him from all he knew.  But, because this was God’s path for us, it all went smoothly.   

Hearing so many compliments I was afraid I might feel arrogant and prideful.  But as I was proud that my sons were good men and workers, it was easy to remember this was all God and His direction for our family. Both boys also worked at a family Gasthaus close to where we lived.  They would work in the kitchen helping prep food, wash dishes, and whatever needed to be done.  In the Fall they would help make Schnaps with the gentleman who owned the Gasthaus.  Herr Rauser was a gruff man, not at all fond of Americans, but as we frequented the Gasthaus often, we were visible and able to change his mind a bit.   

We would all gather the fruit early in the mornings from the fields.  Although, the man they worked with was not fond of most Americans— he did enjoy my sons.  He had seen how they worked at the Gasthaus (which he owned), saw how we all picked up fruit and turned it over to him, and the boys would follow his directions—much only understood through miming of the motions, but the three of them worked well together; and Herr Rauser gained a better appreciation of a culture he had deemed as all unworthy.   In all truthfulness, I think during World War II, Herr Rauser was a mid teen to a young 20-something.  A very tough time in that country and growing with a war, fighting, and lies being told, and he developed a disdain toward Americans.   His heart softened some, at least toward my family–another way to show love to others and soften hearts.

God helped us raise our three children to be hard working, competent adults, good and generous people.  I am blessed and thankful for who they are as adults.  Even without knowing they are my own children, I would be pleased to meet and respect these people.   Thank You, God for always guiding our steps and blessing me with these wonderful adult children.  You have always been there for me and ‘mybellaviews.’