Luggage . . . or Baggage? How are you packing you child's suitcase for their life journey?

(image not my own)

Several weeks ago, God dropped a picture on me, and I've been thinking about it ever since.
It was of several parents, standing at a train depot with their children, handing them bags, seeing them off on a long journey.
Some of the bags were beautiful pieces of luggage with neat pockets containing useful items, tools, necessities for every situation that might arise.
Other bags were old, worn, carpet bags full of dirt and rocks and rubble. There wasn't a viable, usable, good, nourishing, practical, or beautiful thing in them. And some parents were handing these bags to their kids. Sending them off.
It was such a clear picture, and it stopped me cold.
It wasn't hard to understand what I was seeing.
I leaned hard on my kitchen counter, and God asked me a very personal, very convicting question.
"Are you packing luggage? or baggage? for your kids' trips into their futures . . ."
Wow.
Hmmmmm.
He pressed further . . .more questions started to flood in.
"Are you teaching them with your words and you actions about the value of eternal things? Are you showing them how to live, not just telling them? Are you pinning your hopes and dreams on them and not finding out what My hopes and dreams are for them? Are you modeling the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control in your life (Gal. 5:22-23)? Are you teaching them to dwell on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy (Philip. 4:8)?"
In short, what I am putting in my children's suitcases for life?
I must confess, I was not pleased with how I was answering some of these questions.
Now, if you are a parent, you know that everyday you try to nurture, to teach, to love, to show, to mold, to believe, to encourage, to hope, to instruct, to equip. . .to be a good parent,. A great parent, even. To give your kids everything they will need, and, hopefully, nothing they don't, before they leave your home.
Some days . . . most days, perhaps, you hit the mark.
Some days . . .maybe most days, you do not.
For most parents, it's not that we are trying to create baggage for our kids. We would never knowingly do anything to hurt or hinder them.
But when we are not purposeful in our parenting, not mindful of what we are modeling, or when we ask our children to live a life that we aren't living, we are definitely packing just that for them, and we might as well be handing them bags of dirt, sticks, and stones for their journey that will last a lifetime.
We need to be careful that we are not filling them with our expectations, our hopes, our issues, our bitterness, our anger, our pride  . . .that we are not handing them our baggage.
We need to capture our children's hearts. To see them as our brothers and sisters in Christ, for that is what they are, as well as our children. To be about forging real, warm, and deep relationships with them, and not just about monitoring and modifying their behaviors.
Ugh! It all seems so overwhelming!
I mean, we all have baggage.
We'll all damage our children in some way or another. It's inevitable. So why worry too much about it?
Right?
Wrong!
Galatians 6:8-10 says, " . . . the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a bountiful harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."
If we strive to live with purpose, to teach with our words and our lives, and to love big; if we do good to our children and keep doing good, even when we are tired (which, when aren't we?), then we, and not only we, but our children, will enjoy the bounty of a wonderful, healthy, true and beautiful life filled with joy! And not just a good life here, on earth, but life eternal.
But, wait!
What if we mess up? Or, what if we haven't been living this way?
Simple.
We repent.
We must tell our children we are sorry. Ask them to forgive our shortcomings. And we change.
We must tell Jesus we are sorry. Ask for His help and His wisdom and His mercy. And we change.
Begin today. Or, begin again today.
I know I did.
I have a new determination to pack my kid's luggage with useful, true, wonderful, necessary, beautiful things . . . and to send them, well equipped, and well loved, on the most important journey they will ever take.