Parenting and Being Parented
Maxie recently remarked, that she has never seen me laugh and cry so much:) We surrendered the dream of having children about a year ago and rested in the knowledge that Father had a different adventure planned for us. Surprise! A couple of months later, Maxie was pregnant with TWINS! Sofia and Anne arrived a little early on the 23rd of May and totally stole our hearts. We have fallen so deeply in love with these two. Sofia was released from the neonatal ward last week and I’m sitting next to Anne in hospital while writing this. Anne was born with a heart defect that requires around the clock care and an operation when she is stronger. I have a new found respect for parents! Seeing our beautiful little girl suffer has been incredibly painful. We’re also celebrating the life of our dear friend and mentor Floyd McClung, and even though we've been mourning Floyd’s condition for some time, we experienced a deep loss when He passed.
Seven years ago, we were lost. As students, we had dreamt of a life with Jesus, but we were caught up in our own brokenness and felt very far away from Him. Luckily He is never far away from us! One day, celebrating Anna-Marie Franken’s birthday, we experienced a few incredible moments where God spoke to us. Afterwards, Ann introduced us to this very tall American named Floyd. She pointed to us and told him, “I think they are church planters.”
To our dismay, Marko blurted out: “We’re not even going to church!” Floyd smiled and said, “You two should come to my church. It’s called Chocolate Church, because it’s always sweet.” We fell in love with Jesus as Floyd and Sally simply pointed us to Him through their lives. We couldn't get enough! Floyd taught us that if we, as a community, would love God, love the lost and love each other, then we are a church.
Floyd loved us, listened to us, mourned with us and took crazy chances on us. Floyd had the unique gift for setting exactly the right challenges for leaders. We never imagined living in another continent, making friends from all over the world or experience the JOY of receiving these precious little girls!
Floyd and Sally gave us many gifts, a deep love for Jesus and His mission, a love for His church, encouragement and the knowledge that we are loved children of God. They also helped us see that God is good and deeply invested in shaping our characters. They helped us see that Father is close to us in all circumstances and that He can redeem any situation or life for His glory.
There has not been much we could control in the last weeks, but one thing we’ve been able to do, is be present. To be there for every painful test, to cry, talk, mourn and in the pain, find that Jesus is close to us. He truly understands suffering. He is so good at comforting us. With Him there is no holding back. I also learn from Him, he modeled life from death, growth from suffering and mourned with friends when they experienced loss. In their suffering He declared that the Kingdom of God is close. He promised infinite joy and then walked to His death so we might live.
Thomas Aquinas said, “To love is to will the good of the other.” This experience has me thinking a lot about what it means to love or, “to will the good of someone”. What does it look like for Anne? If I love God with all my heart, what would be good for Him? If I truly love my neighbor, what would be good for them? I do sense it starts with being present and really caring.
Lessons we are learning:
I’ve only been a dad for 7 weeks and it brings me so much joy to give these girls whatever they need. I am practicing being presumptuous in my asking and praying.
Community and deep friendships are built when we invite others to share our pain.
It helps when someone who understands, cries and feels with you.
Food-trains are amazing and you need Syrian friends in your food-train, they give food for weeks:)
About the author: South-African living in Hamburg. Married and proud father of newborn TWINS. Designer, maker and tinkerer. Leads All-Nations Hamburg Hub. Passionate about being a disciple of Jesus, making disciples and catalyzing Jesus movements.
Get Connected & Let’s Grow Together!
We invite you! Here are some amazing resources you may find interesting including:
Our Founder, Floyd McClung, has 18 books and audio/video teachings that will be an encouragement to you as you press in to all Jesus has for you in your journey! Connect HERE to our founders area to be equipped!
Lessons from the Least, the Last, and the Lost, All Nations Weekly Devotion by Blake Staton, M.Div.
All Nations Pocket Guide to Church Planting by Dr. Pam Arlund (in many languages)
All Nations Storytelling Resource
Mission’s Edge, a monthly roundtable learning opportunities with ministry and missions leaders! Sign-up for any of these today and participate! Let’s grow together!
To participate or learn about our monthly global prayer for the neglected people around the world, sign-up HERE to receive a monthly video prayer invite. We meet on the last Thursday of each month at 8 am CST (US). We encourage everyone to join in as we pray that Jesus will be worshiped by all peoples of the earth — the least, the last, and the lost!
