"I Love You, Daddy"

2nd Corinthians 12.14b-15 NASU

“…for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?”

Paul wanted what most parents want… the love of their children. My children can offer me no greater gift than their heart of love. 

I want nothing material or monetary from my kids. “…I do not seek what is yours, but you.” That I could not sell my daughter’s preschool art on E-Bay for a good price is irrelevant. I wouldn’t sell it if I could. Her artwork is priceless to me and clearly says in her own way, “I love you, Daddy.” My child’s colorful scribbled offerings on crumpled scraps of construction paper represent all I need from my little girl. If I had to (and I don’t because it’s freely given), I would gladly spend my last penny of income and expend my last drop of energy for the love and affection of the children God has given me.

Paul too would “most gladly spend and be expended” for the souls of his Corinthian children. He loved his disciples and wanted nothing more than their love in return. 

I am more than a child of God. I am also a man of God, having “put childish things behind me” (1st Corinthians 13.11). I am more than a child or man of God. I am a father (or at least a big brother) to others in Christ’s kingdom. As a father in the faith “I will most gladly spend and be expended for [the] souls” of the spiritual children God as given me.

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The beautiful black and white image above is an untitled photograph by Mildred Grossman (1916-1988) taken at the Pilgrim Prayer March, Washington, D.C., 1957. Her work was on display February 9 - April 10, 1999 at the Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery, University of Maryland, Baltimore County.