Not Your Ordinary Empty Nest

Jill and I are in the midst of planning the wedding for our daughter Traci, the third of three weddings in the last 19 months. Can you say 100 meter sprint in 10 seconds flat? These last 19 months have been a joyous time around the Prater house. The months have also provided some wonderful times of reflection for Jill and me as well. As we’ve pondered marrying off our last daughter, we realize that we are entering into what our culture calls the “empty nest” years. In many ways the term “empty nest” is accurate, for in fact it will be empty around our house much of the time. But as Jill and I talk and pray about this next season of our lives, it seems “empty nest” doesn’t quite fit. You see, as we look at the years that lie ahead we desire to finish the race in a similar way that Moses did. At his funeral, after living 120 years, this is what was said about him: “His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated.” (Deut.34:7).

Jill and I have been talking and praying about what it might look like to finish our lives together with our eye for God’s glory undimmed and our vigor to serve Him unabated. I’m not sure we know exactly what that looks like yet, however, we don’t think that the years that lie ahead will be “empty.” We do know there is yet so much more that we are called to do. As first generation Christian parents we still want to fulfill our responsibility to be part of the discipleship of our grown, married children. As first generation grandparents we can’t wait to tell our grandkids about the gospel and the glorious life of following and delighting in Jesus Christ. Our prayer is that as God gives us love for Christ that grows in the ensuing years, and our lives would make the Savior more attractive to our unregenerate grandchildren. We’ve only influenced one generation for Christ and there is another on the way that we want to affect before the Lord calls us home.

This applies not only to our natural family; it applies to our church family as well. At Covenant Fellowship, there are two, and if the Lord gives us long life, three generations we are called to yet disciple, encourage and influence for Christ. What does that look like? Again, I’m not fully sure yet. However, it does seem that is marked by a people in my age group and older whose passion for Jesus is not only “undimmed,” and “unabated,” but impacts, effects and stirs the next generation or two to be passionate for Christ as well.

Oh, there is yet so much yet for us to do. The years that lie ahead are far from empty. That’s why I don’t think “empty nest” is the term that defines the next season for Jill and me. We wonder if terms like “undimmed” and “unabated vigor” might more accurately portray what God has for us. Would you pray for Jill and me? Like you, we want to finish well. Would you also join us? Someday we’ll all be empty nesters, but we never have to live empty lives. There is just too much left to do!