Psalm 127 is attributed to Solomon, “the man to whom God gave wisdom and understanding beyond measure.” I Kings 4:29. It’s part of the body of Psalms titled, the Songs of Ascents, words about real people on their journeys of faith. Real people, like us.

“Unless the LORD builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.”
Psalm 127:1

We started building our house together in 1972. In 1976 and 1977 it expanded greatly. God entrusted us with two boys. We are thankful for both our sons and the men they have become.

Entrusted – a great privilege, a great responsibility. We stumbled into parenthood exited and clueless. What does building our home, building into the lives of these two look like?

We read. We prayed. We cried. We lost sleep.

We took comfort in the wisdom of Dr. Dobson, “If there was one correct way to parent, it would be in the Bible.” It is not.

We continued habits we started before they joined the family, now with expanded applications. “Second verse, same as the first, a little bit louder and a little bit worse.” Do you remember these lyrics from Henry VIII, I Am, originally sung by Herman’s Hermits? The second (and third) verses of our house building (family building) looked much like the first, yes louder, not worse.

Bill and I continued our personal time with God.
The boys came to church with us as infants becoming familiar with church nurseries.
We sought the wisdom of those older and wiser, from books and from people we knew.
We continued our habit of hospitality.
We continued our family vacations each summer, usually camping.
We enfolded the boys into who we were.

We didn’t want our labors raising two boys to be in vain.

“It is in vain that your rise up early and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.”
Psalm 127:2

True confession – in our silver-haired years, we don’t want vanity to describe us. We no longer stay up for the 10 p.m. news. I cling to Deuteronomy 33:12, “Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him,” (NIV). I am thankful for sleep.

We don’t want anxiety to define us. “The Lord is near. do not be anxious about anything,” Philippians 4:5, and 6 (NIV). We’re human. Anxiety comes uninvited. Recently I was reading a memoir. The author’s adult son died while hiking. Anxiety entered. Both our now adult sons love  hiking. I needed to apply the imperative. I needed to remember the Lord’s nearness.

“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
the fruit of the womb a reward.”
Psalm 127:3

A heritage, something that has been gifted to us. Dave and Jeff are gifts to us from God. God is their owner; we stewarded his gift for a season. A reward – not earned, but cherished.

“Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one’s youth.”
Psalm 127:4

Dave and Jeff have expanded the target of our arrows. Dave’s hopes is that his work will make a difference in civil rights. Whereas Bill’s and my primary congregation has been the college campus, Jeff’s congregations go from the cradle to the grave.

“Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.”
Psalm 127:5

We’re blessed by our size 2 quiver.

According to my Bible notes, the gate is the place where justice is administered. When the Lord builds the house, there is no shame, even in the reality of hards.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, May 2022