Parents appreciation day

The other day I was sharing with a coworker about a phone conversation I had with my dad. My coworker's comment reminded me how wise my dad is. As I get older I realize more and more how blessed I am to have such godly, wise and loving parents. Even today as I was talking to my roommate I was reminded again what a tremendous gift my parents are from God. It could be a Chinese thing, that while my parents and I are very close, we don't talk on the phone a lot, maybe once a week at most. But everytime I walk away from our phone conversation feeling spiritually recharged. Their counsel always draws me back to the Scripture. They are ever quick to remind me to trust in God, to wait for Him, to be faithful in doing His work, to seek first His kingdom and righteousness. That's basically their advice for every circumstance I bring before them. But how true is it that we are to trust in God, to wait for Him, to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness whatever circumstance we are in!

This godly wisdom they display, I believe, is in part the result of a life filled with trials. Through their trials and their weaknesses God's sufficient grace is evidently shown. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, "For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead." and again in 4:7, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." That's the fruit I see in my parents' life, humble trust in and reliance upon God.

I don't express my appreciation and my love for my parents enough. That's another Chinese thing, we are not very verbal about our feelings. But I do love my parents very much, and I thank God for them everyday.