A Joyous Conclusion
This was a wearisome book. Fighting for your child’s eternal salvation is a wearisome task. But there is no greater joy and responsibility in this life than raising your child in the arms of Holy Mother Church. Thus, we have yet another paradox in our holy faith.
This should come as no surprise, for our holy faith is filled with paradox: joy is found in suffering; eternal life comes from the death of Christ; we must carry our cross and yet Jesus’s yoke is easy, and His burden is light; the Lord lifts up the lowly; those who mourn shall be comforted. The paradoxes pour off the biblical page like the waters of Baptism.
Dear Parent, understand that it is not heaven that is upside down, but the world; it is not Church that is backwards, but her enemies.
Embrace the paradox: do not parent for this world, but for the world to come; do not prepare your little one for this life, but for the life to come; do not parent for time, but for eternity.
If you were to live the contents of this little book, an indescribable joy would begin to permeate your family life. Hear me: everything in your life would be forcibly changed: your marriage, your work, your friendships, your finances, and your entertainment. Yes, your entire life will no longer be the same: your joy will give rise to gratitude; your sorrow will increase your compassion; your sickness will become a source of sacrifice and your victories a source of humility; time with others will be a chance to speak about God and time alone will be a chance for God to speak to you.
Above all, your relationship with that little, immortal soul in your care will change. Your little one will see a joy radiate from you like he has never seen before. And it is this joy that becomes the greatest teacher of all.
Dear Parent: the very last thing I implore you to do is this: imagine meeting your son or daughter in paradise, knowing that you will bask in the glory of the beatific vision forever. Imagine, no more scrapped knees, no more tummy aches, no more broken bones, no more broken hearts, no more temptation, no more sin, no more sickness, and no more death. All will be whole. All will be complete. All will be perfect. All will be for eternity. This is your purpose. Now get to it.
This article is taken from a chapter in Parenting for Eternity by Conor Gallagher which is available from TAN Books.
