Making Peace
by Ricky Doc Sauceda
About five years ago, my relationship with my eldest child came apart. I had encouraged him in his growing years to be awesome. I became his personal coach in faith and life - I taught him all of what I knew.
I never expected him to fall away from me and blame me for his failures. A couple of years later I encountered a tragedy which pointed me towards a new direction in my life. I lost my wife and what little life I had built with her. I was at the bottom, like my Faithful Friend, Tracy Cavelli-Trussel, was talking about in the message I posted from her radio blog site.
Today, was the first time Ricky Jr. had set foot inside my apartment. He complimented it because it felt 'homey.' I spent a wonderful day with him and he opened up his mind to me about how he approaches life. It is based on all that I taught him and that came from a 'spiritual life in Jesus.'
That is why I said earlier I was happy God already knew the answer to the question: Did you teach your children My Ways? In reality, we parents are stewards of the children the Lord has entrusted us with. We are expected to do a noble job raising them.
Ricky Jr and Chris are amazing me with their understanding and reliance on Christian faith. They don't go around waving bibles and seeking souls, but they carry themselves with goodness. They know there is one God and that they belong to Him. I always told them that.
My daughter was always the one who carried this walk without plastering bible quotes everywhere. These three show it by their acts and loving ways. I know that I can go to my final rest and that they will be alright. That comes from my dad, mom and grandma - generation to generation.
I am just sharing this because I received great peace today from Ricky Jr's visit. I needed it. I was feeling really low because I had lost a dear friend, was dumped by a wonderful person, my daughter was suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome and then I got my car repossessed and my bike broke down. That's a lot.
Through it all I have been in constant prayer. I have relied on God to carry and sustain me. I cried to Him saying I couldn't take one more incident. He delivered my eldest son to have a wonderful day with. Now, I feel revitalized...knowing the Lord really does know that limit. The one where He won't let us go into anything more than what we can bear.
I may have a ways to go before things get clearer or better. The one thing I know is that I love God and my children. Today, I felt Him and a miracle took place: My son and I embraced and loved and blessed each other. That is what God can do.