My kids love superheroes. They love to dress like them. They love to pretend they are flying or have supernatural strength or can shoot spider webs out of their hands. They love the idea that superheroes are just good guys. So naturally, they chose superheroes for their Halloween costumes this year. (They were also superheroes last year...)
They really know very little about the actual superheroes themselves, since they have never seen the movies or read the books, but they love the idea that they are good guys that have supernatural powers. And they use those superpowers to help others. I've always just chalked it up to little boy stuff and haven't given the whole superhero thing much thought.
Until tonight.
Then I read this awesome article. It really is inspiring (just check out the title!), so please take some time to read it over a cup of coffee, but for now, here's the part that got me...
I have always said to my children, “Selfishness is natural. Generosity is supernatural and comes from letting the Holy Spirit talk to us and teach us how to give. I just know He is going to use you greatly in the world.” (and so on, fighting is natural, loving is supernatural–what choice will you make–to serve yourself or your flesh or to live supernaturally and become God’s love and grace to a world that needs redemption.Immediately, my mind went to my tiny boys dressed up in superhero costumes with muscles made of cotton batting, and I realized that I have an amazing opportunity to put the power of the Holy Spirit in terms that they can understand! I am constantly "preaching" to my kids about being kind to others, serving others, being selfless, and so on...But most of the time, by the look on their faces, all they are hearing is the Charlie Brown teacher saying, "Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah..." We repeat scripture verses, we talk about Jesus, we read the Bible...but somehow, it all just seems lost on them on many days.
But what if I approach it the way this amazing mom does...not that being kind and selfless and loving are chores, a sort of obligation for us Christ-followers, but that being kind and selfless and loving are SUPERNATURAL POWERS!! bestowed upon us as Christ-followers by the Holy Spirit. We have been entrusted with great gifts and great power--and what is it??? Oh yeah..."With great power comes great responsibility."
Of course I get that the connection has been made before. I get that there are real-life actual superheroes in the Bible. I get that this should have occurred to me before 5 years (wow...has it really been FIVE years???) into parenting little boys.
But it didn't. And maybe God has been waiting for just the right moment to reveal it to me. And here's why.
As parents, we get to see our children literally changing before our eyes. Physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually...we see it all. Jack seems to experience these seasons of change a little more intensely than most children. Right now, Jack is struggling with how to put others' needs/wants/feelings before his own. We are working on training Jack to recognize what he can do to serve and love others around him and then to make the conscious choice to follow through with those actions, even when he must abandon his own desires. This might include helping clean up the house instead of playing outside, making a card for someone when he would rather ride his scooter, sharing his toys with his brother when he really doesn't want to, or collecting money for needy kids when he could be playing at his friend's house.
And lately, Jack is not a fan. Not at all.
Which is, after all, only natural. Of course, he wants to play with toys and ride his scooter and go to his friend's house. Those things are all FUN!! And don't we all love to have fun???
But God calls us to so much more than that. God empowers us through the Holy Spirit to be supernatural. I want Jack to know that the deep joy that comes from laying down his own desires to serve others is so much greater and long-lasting than those moments of immediate gratification that comes from serving himself. If I can train Jack to have a servant's heart, then I know he will have more joy, he will know Christ more intimately, he will be a better husband and father, he will make an impact for the kingdom of God.
And don't you have to have a servant's heart to be a superhero??
The next time we are on the verge of a meltdown (which will be today), I can encourage Jack by letting him know it takes supernatural powers (that come from the Holy Spirit) to serve others. I can't wait to try it out....I'll let you know how it goes.
