Disneyland, Parenting, and the Grace of God

My wife and I live about twenty minutes away from “The happiest place on earth”- Disneyland. I’m not sure who coined that phrase for Disneyland, but it’s great marketing. People actually believe paying an equivalent of a month’s mortgage after parking, tickets, food, and merchandise while waiting in lines for as long as it takes to learn a foreign language for rides as short as a middle school student’s attention span is indeed “The happiest place on earth.”

Aside from all the negatives, Disneyland can be a pretty fun place. I guess that’s why they’re still in business. About a year ago, my wife and I went on a date and spent the day hanging out and enjoying several rides. It was a great day simply enjoying each other. So the other day we decided to take our three-year-old for her first trip to Disneyland. It was an entirely different experience. Since we had our little one, we couldn’t get on most of the rides because of her lack of size. Initially you would think this was disappointing, and to some degree it was because getting on “It’s a small world” is like watching someone fly-fishing while listening to a high school valedictorian speech at a graduation ceremony. At least the ride is air-conditioned and if you can block out the annoying song you can sneak in a power nap.

Despite all that my wife and I had childlike anticipation throughout the day wondering how our little three-year-old would take things in. As we walked about and saw our little girl look around in complete amazement and marvel realizing she’s entered into a completely different world, where some of her favorite imaginary characters come to life and displays of fictional worlds are real, we couldn’t help but feel the same sense of joy and excitement. It didn’t really matter to us that we couldn’t get on some of our favorite rides because watching our child filled with wonder and awe is an experience to behold as a parent.

She went talking about it for days and asking when she could go back to “Busyland,” an appropriate name she made up herself. Parenting is hard. It’s the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. There has been plenty of frustration and anger displayed in inappropriate ways on my part. In those moments of frustration I’ve often thought about how much easier life was before children and all the advantages, both freedom and income, that come with it. It’s easy to think about what is causing the frustration in your life and want it removed. But there lies the problem. My children are not the cause of my frustrations but they reveal the selfishness already within me. Parenting has exposed me to how sinful and selfish I truly am.

It’s also made me more grateful for God’s mercy and has created a greater awareness of my need for His grace. I’ve failed many times as a father, but the Lord isn’t done with me. And days like our daughter’s first trip to Disneyland are a reminder to me how much the Lord loves me. I found so much joy in the joy of my child. This is how God views me. He finds joy in my joy, but the difference is, He is completely holy, full of light and without darkness. He loves me with a pure love, a love that Christ displayed on the cross by taking on God’s wrath in my place and giving me His righteousness. My heavenly Father is slow to anger and has everlasting patience.

My children are His gifts to me and a reminder that He is patient and His love endures forever. I’ll always remember this day as a father. But I’ll also remember this day as His son.