Thirty years ago this week at St Thomas Elgin General Hospital, first the Watter’s and then the Wise’s lives were changed forever with the birth of their first child.  It is incredible to us how quickly that time has passed and what a joy it has been to see Jon and Nicole marry and begin their own family. We are so proud of both of them and are humbled as we watch them parent Ben and Abi.  Recently they posted on their website their goals as parents and they bear repeating.

“First and foremost, we want our kids to know Jesus. We want them to know that Christianity is about a relationship with the God of all creation, who shaped them, loves them, died and rose again for them, and has a plan for their little lives that is more exciting, more amazing, and more wonderful than they could ever find on their own. (Jeremiah 29:11)

We want them to know, at a minimum, what His book, the Bible, and especially the New Testatment, teaches about how to live a healthy, compassionate, generous and righteous life. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

We want them to understand that each and every child of God is instructed to be involved in Going. That as Christians we have a responsibility not just to our family, or our community, but to the lost and the hurting and the broken around the world. (Matthew 28:16-20)

We want them to experience the incredible adventure of Going, so that whether God calls them to be Goers or Senders, they will know the wonderous uncertainty and trembling, awstruck joy of obeying His call into the unknown and seeing how His mighty power moves mountains, lights the darkness, and changes lives from the inside out. (Romans 1:20)

We want them to know that if you’re comfortable, you’re not growing. If life is too easy, then you’re not doing enough. If your bank account is full, then you’re not giving enough. If travel means only a vacation, then you’re not seeing the world the way God does. That if you settle for the world’s best, then you miss God’s best and your life is empty. (Matthew 4:4)”

Jon and Nic put feet to thought themselves in their recent visit to Asia, and we did appreciate their interest in what we and others are doing over here for the cause of Christ. We are sorry that Pam could not be here, but that too is the price of service. We are happy that our son and his wife are following the Lord as he leads them through the next thirty years of their lives. May they be faithful to the path.

“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy” Rabindranath Tagore