Our call as (future) parents

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This is a series of reflections that I sent to my fiancee from my own Bible readings. I have posted them in this blog so that it is easier to keep track for future reflections. 
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. - Lk 1:38.
This is the episode in Luke when the angel appeared in front of Mary and announced that she has found favour in the Lord, only to know also that she will be having a child when she was not married yet. She knew about the task that this child was going to undertake and willingly accept the calling that God has given to her and this particular child. A parallel episode happened just before this to Zechariah and Elizabeth, which actually parallel to other episodes in the OT, such as the birth of Samuel.

I focus on Mary’s and Elizabeth’s acceptance of God’s calling for their child in this episode. Extrapolating this, I am reflecting for the future here. What if, one day, given our godly parenting (by God’s grace), that our children decided to become cross-cultural missionaries? Would we be willing to accept, upon much prayers and contemplations, that this is the path that God wants our children to take and be willing work alongside with God to support them in every sense of the word?

Or what if they are called to become pastors? Or what if they are called to take on other full time role? Or what if they are called to be in the marketplace making a huge impact for God? How can we, as parents in the future, pray alongside with them and encourage them to pursue God’s calling for them? How do we respond in the way that Mary did, that God’s word be fulfilled in the lives of our children?

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