I like the term “emerging” better
than some of the other attempts to find labels for the young who
follow us generationally. I feel the same way about using the more
affirmative term “developing” nations instead of the label “third
world” countries.
I acknowledge that I am calendar-challenged and
even beyond the top of the actuarial age ladder with almost everyone
else at different stages of climbing the rungs behind me. Most of
their lives are yet to be lived. I have already “emerged” like a
butterfly from its cocoon and for scores of years been flying about doing what I believed is God's will in His plan among the flowers I was meant
to pollinate.
Nevertheless, there may still be more flowers for me to pollinate. I have family cocoons around from which human butterflies are still in the
process of emerging. In fact, I just took a count—I found 38 in my
Emerging Generational circle, in my blood line or my blended line, you might
say. We were blessed with three more precious infants since my 90th
birthday partial group picture two years ago.
These precious people-of-my-heart range
from AARP-eligible to infants less than a year old. I count in my
Emerging Generation my four adult sons, spouses, grandchildren, their
spouses, and great-grands each in process of emerging like a
butterfly from his or her various life chrysalis. Whatever exes there may
be, and blended families embraced, and adopted gems God planned to be
within our circle are equally a part of my heart and my concern.
At the beginning of this new year, when
thinking about my lifetime “Bucket List,” I felt God's nudge to
add still another “word” of the year for my greater
emphasis—“invest” in the sense of prayer and concern and
encouragement and time into the lives of my Emerging Generation one
by one. I consider it God's mandate and my responsibility to do so
as consistently as He gives me opportunity and wisdom. I realize that
I probably won't be around to see most of the returns. That is of
little consequence. My faithfulness to help even just a little to set
in motion God's overall direction for each of them is what matters.
If in any given instance, I'm limited
to prayer alone, I have no doubt that my earnest prayers for each one
of them will outlive my “earth suit” body life. None of our
prayers are ignored or discarded in some angelic waste basket beside
God's throne as being insignificant or unworthy or too audacious to
answer. Once prayed from our lips or heart or spirit or with
groaning, all of our prayers are everlasting. They never vanish. They are forever on
God's front burner, so to speak, until answered perfectly in His way
and will and timing, even if my prayer for some of them takes scores
of years or generations to be realized.
Through being privileged to make some
consistent investment in the lives of my Emerging Generation,
I seek to water and nurture their God-given potential by my
encouragement. I may offer a word of wisdom—but only if asked for.
If not, I pray for my own wisdom to zip the lip.
What beautiful butterflies are hiding
and developing in those ordinary-looking cocoons that are so beloved
to me? I dare not force them open or interfere with God's timing for
their debut into the atmosphere God has prepared for them. What
delight I expect to feel from my vantage point in heaven when I see
the fulfillment of God's plan in each of their lives—a field full
of butterflies whom I knew when they were in their caterpillar stage!
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