My son wants to be a rock star, although I’m not sure he knows what that means. He really likes music a lot and sincerely loves singing in church and home. I’ve taken him with me on some youth events and he has seen people like Chris Tomlin, Hawk Nelson, and others perform. His grandfather and uncle purchased him an electric guitar and amp for his birthday, so hopefully we’ll get him started in lessons some time this fall. To go along with the image, he has been growing his hair long and has even developed a cool head flip to keep his hair out of his face. We knew we had to trim it up the other day when the bank teller at the drive thru apologized for not having suckers “for the girls in the backseat.” We laughed with and at him. He said a couple of kids at school were giving him a hard time about the hair flip, so I told him I’d beat them up. I was just kidding. I really would not beat up any little kids, but my wife probably would! As a parent of two kids, I can tell you that I would go to great lengths to defend my children. More than anything, I want to shield them from any harm which would come their way. On the other hand, I realize there is a balance in defending them. Bailing them out of every hardship and delivering them from every difficulty is not beneficial for them in the future. However, when it really counts, I know that I would do anything to defend them. Being a parent has taught me a little about how God must think about His children. Since we are created in the image of God, I suppose He placed in parents some of the same feelings He has about us. In reading the Scriptures I am very confident God will defend those who are His against the attacks of evil. I am certainly not saying that He always shields us from harm, but when it counts He steps in and comes to our defense (see Psalm 59). When our back is against the wall or when there seems to be no way of escape, God will be our defender. God loves His children and will do anything to keep them away from those who seek their harm.
