SESSION OBJECTIVES
After review of the topic you will be able to, at the appropriate time,
- SEVER the umbilical cord with grace
- LET GO of the apron strings gently but firmly
- PROGRESS in growth, physically and spiritually.
- BUILD an altar unto God and worship Him.
*SIGH*
I just attended the delivery of a baby. The mother gave three great mighty pushes and the baby's head
was delivered. With gentle lateral flexion posteriorly, the anterior shoulder was delivered. With a
further bit of assistance the posterior shoulder was followed by the rest of the baby. The beautiful
baby boy (3.250 kg) was laid on the mother's tummy while I arranged for the father to snip the
umbilical cord.
UMBILICAL CORD
The umbilical cord serves to attach the baby in utero to the mother. The umbilical cord is the baby's lifeline. Much like a spaceman on a walk about out in space who is tethered to the mothercraft by an umbilical cord that carries his oxygen supply. For the baby more than just oxygen is carried by the umbilical cord: all nutrition for baby comes along the umbilical cord. All waste products are sent out through the umbilical cord. For as long as the baby is in the uterus, the baby is dependant on the umbilical cord for life itself.
CUT NEEDED
And yet, vital as the umbilical cord is, there comes a time for it to be cut. After the baby is born, after it has taken its first breath, the baby is ready to start an independant life. The umbilical cord has served its function. But now it is no longer needed. It is time to sever the relationship. Unless it is cut the baby is dangerously tethered to the mother. A cut to devide the umbilical cord is needed to enable the baby to progress.
LETTING GO THE APRON STRINGS
And life goes on. The new born infant, freed of the umbilical cord, breaths on his own. Eliminates his
own waste products. Yet still dependant on mother for all his other needs. For milk. For security. For
protection. For comfort. For hugs. For love. For nappie change.
At first, baby cannot even move from where he is laid down. Then he learns to wriggle, and squirm. And gains some control of movement. Then he learns to crawl. Then to toddle. Then to walk. Tentatively at first. Then steadier still. The toddler no longer toddles but walks steadily, but still clinging onto the apron strings. Then as the ballance between dependence and independence swings in favour of calling own's own shots, comes the day when he lets go of the apron strings and steps forth boldly into the into the world.
GROWTH, MATURITY
Cutting the umbilical cord and letting go of the apron strings are but steps in growth. The first step must occur before the second can take place. And for further growth to occur you must learn to find your own sustinence, and to depend on God for your daily bread:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
(Proverbs_3:5-6)
Be done with every trace of wickedness, depravity, malignity, deceit, insincerity, pretense,
hipocrisy, grudges, envy, jealousy slander and evil speaking of every kind. Like nwborn babies you
should crave, thirst for, earnestly desire the pure unadulterated spiritual milk that by it you may be
nutured and grow unto complete salvation, since you have already tasted the goodness and kindness of
the Lord. (1_Peter_2:1-3_AMP)
SO TOO, TODAY
So too, today, 26 years onwards, my son and my new daughter, the time has come for you to cut the
umbilical cord. The time has come for you to let go of the apron strings. For having got married, you
now prepare to venture to Glasgow for undergraduate/ postgraduate studies: a course that will see you
into the year 2002 and beyond. The task is daunting: to travel to distant land: to set up house: to
study: to work: to learn to submit to one another, even as you learn to submit to God.
MARKER POINTS
What can we as parents do, at this crucial marker point in your lives? Take a hint from Abram (before
he was renamed Abraham) when he responded to God's call to leave his country and leave his people and
leave his father's household (Genesis_12:1). Abram got up and left Haran and set out for the land of
Canaan. Pausing at a crucial marker point at the great tree of Moreh at Shechem (Genesis_12:7), Abram
built an altar there to the Lord. Progressing further on to the hills east of Bethel and pitching his
tent, Ab So too, today, as we recognise this significant marker point in your life, we pause to BUILD
an altar to God, to WORSHIP Him, to PRAISE Him for who He is, and to THANK Him for what He has done
for us:
Creator of heaven and earth,
Who loved us while we were yet sinners
Who sent His son to redeem us with His blood:
God who allowed us to be your parents and raise you up:
Who allowed for your education and for you to marry your lovely wife:
God who continues to draw us close to Him:
Ever seeking perfection and holiness in our lives...
Feeding us ever with His Word.
Filling us with His Grace
Guiding us with the Holy Spirit:
May the LORD God Almighty continue to look favourably upon you:
may He go before you to prepare the way.
He will cover you with his feathers
and under his wings will you find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
(Psalms_91:4)
HOMEWORK
READ Colossians_3:1-17
DISCUSS
How can you apply these rules for holy living?
What are the significant marker points in your life?
What blessings do you particularly want to thank God for?
LIST 3 main points to pray about.
Husband to lead in prayer time.
Wife to close prayer time.
May God bless your time together.
See you next week.
FRIENDSHIP
Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed the boy ahead of him had tripped and dropped
all of the books he was carrying, along with two sweaters, a baseball bat, a glove and a small tape
recorder. Mark knelt down and helped the boy pick up the scattered articles. Since they were going the
same way, he helped to carry part of the burden.
As they walked Mark discovered the boy's name was Bill, that he loved video games, baseball and
history, and that he was having lots of trouble with his other subjects and that he had just broken up
with his girlfriend.
They arrived at Bill's home first and Mark was invited in for a Coke and to watch some television. The
afternoon passed pleasantly with a few laughs and some shared small talk, then Mark went home.
They continued to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, then both graduated
from junior high school. They ended up in the same high school where they had brief contacts over the
years.
Finally the long-awaited senior year came and three weeks before graduation, Bill asked Mark if they
could talk. Bill reminded him of the day years ago when they had first met.
"Did you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?" asked Bill. "You see, I
cleaned out my locker because I didn't want to leave a mess for anyone else. I had stored away some of
my mothers sleeping pills and I was going home to commit suicide. But after we spent some time
together talking and laughing, I realized that if I had killed myself, I would have missed that time
and so many others that might follow. So you see, Mark, when you picked up those books that day, you
did a lot more, A true story: John W. Schlatter
Every little hello,
every little smile,
every helping hand
saves a hurting heart.
Pass it on.
With this email also comes the token that says that YOU are special
There's a miracle call Friendship
That dwells in every heart.
You don't know how it happens,
Or when it gets to start.
Now friendship always brings
That special inner lift:
And you realize that Friendship
Is God's most precious gift!
True friends are like rare jewels
They encourage you to succeed.
They lend an ear, they are always there,
They are true friends, indeed
Show your friends how much you care.....
Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND.
If it comes back to you, then you'll know you have a friend for life.
send this to everyone who you consider a friend, even the
person that sent this to you. Show your friends how much you
appreciate them and what they mean to you.........
14th July 1998 - Cutting the umbilical cord
