Conway Twitty. I remember riding in the car blaring 97 Country or sitting in our trailer on the Suwannee listening to him. His voice is unmistakable. One of my favorite songs by him is “That’s My Job” about a dad to a son. I woke up singing it this morning and then as I was quoting it to the hubs this morning over breakfast, tears flowed. I knew what the post would be today.
I woke up cryin’ late at night when I was very young
I had dreamed my father had passed away and gone
my world revolved around him I couldn’t lie there anymore
so I made my way down the mirrored hall and tapped upon his door
And I said Daddy I’m so afraid how will I go on with you gone that way
Don’t wanna cry anymore so may I stay with you and he said
Chorus:
That’s my job
that’s what I do
everything I do is because of you to keep you safe with me
that’s my job you see
Later we barely got along this teenage boy and he
most of the fights it seems were over different dreams we each held for me
he wanted knowledge and learning
I wanted to fly out west
said I could make it out there if I just had the fare
I got half will you loan me the rest
and I said Daddy I’m so afraid there’s no guarentee in the plans I’ve made
and if I should fail who will pay my way back home
and he said
::CHORUS::
Every person carves his spot and fills the hole with light
and I pray some day I might light as bright as he
I woke up early one bright fall day to spread the tragic news
after all my travels I settled down within a mile or two
I make my living with words and rhyme and all this tragedy
should go into my head and out instead as bits of poetry
but I say Daddy I’m so afraid how will I go on with you gone this way
how can I come up with a song to say I love you
That’s my job
that’s what I do
everything I do is because of you to keep you safe with me
that’s my job you see
My friend, Lara, posted a convicting blog the other day about our job as parents. So, that is where I want to take this post:
The Bible has much to say about what our jobs are as parents. As E and I have both celebrated our first “Day” now and we get closer and closer to the birth of our son, we are only beginning to realize the burden and responsibility (and joy) that it is to raise a son in light of the Gospel.
Here are some Scriptures that remind us of what our job is as parents:
Colossians 3:21
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Psalm 78:1-11
Proverbs 22:6
Of course, these are just some of the MANY that tells us what we are to do with our children, for our children. But, no where in the Bible does God, our Father, tell us to SAVE our children. We cannot. The job of our child’s salvation is not ours. The role of salvation in our children is directed by the Holy Spirit. When we get overwhelmed with the responsibility of making sure our children follow Christ one day, all we can do is:
Pray. Lead. Guide. Teach. Train.
Let’s obey what God has told us to do and leave the worrying, fretting, and salvation regeneration to the only One who is able to do so.
