Not sure this belongs here, but wanted somewhere to put it:
Just had a pleasant 30 minute phone visit with a man I knew growing up. He was a friend of our family, and was more or less the guy at the center of founding the Christian school I grew up in from 2nd to 12th grade. He had reached out via Facebook and wanted to discuss my recent posts about Bible translations.
During the discussion, I learned that neither of his two sons (my peers growing up, now in their 40’s) is walking with the Lord. He ministers truth to them consistently and often. It sounds like the deceitfulness of sin caused a lot of fragmentation and brokenness in their family. I’m certain things didn’t turn out as he had hoped, given the labor he put in to raising his children in the Lord. What struck me, however, was how nonetheless happy in the Lord this man was; how much he loves the word of God; and how much he doted over the love he has for his church family. I mean, really think about this. If he wanted to think with fleshly eyes, he could look at all that work he did to start a Christian school so he could raise his sons in the Lord, and call it all a waste. But he doesn’t think or speak that way at all. He just keeps on loving Jesus like he has for 50 years. Still reading that same NASB77 Bible he’s had since he was converted back in college.
I encouraged him by letting him know how grateful I am as I look back at the grace of God poured out upon me in my childhood. That Christian school was far from perfect, but God was very good to me in those days. I am thankful for real sacrifices that were made by men like himself to make that possible, and for my part, I want him to be able to look at my life as fruit that he had a hand in.
We never know what our labors are producing, brothers. It may not end up being the fruit you are desiring or expecting. Trust God and be joyful every day.