John’s third epistle is addressed to a dear friend named Gaius. Three times in the first two verses, he expresses his love for his younger friend: “The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. Beloved…” (3 John 1:1-2, italics added). He then says that his greatest desire is for Gaius to be successful and healthy, and he expresses his joy that Gaius is doing well spiritually:
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
3:John 1:3
From the context, it’s clear that John is using the word “children” as a term of endearment, to refer to Gaius and others he loves, just as the apostle Paul called Timothy and Titus his sons (see 1 Timothy 1:2, 2 Timothy 1:3, 2 Timothy 2:1, Titus 1:4) and as Helaman spoke of the 2,000 young soldiers he led as his “sons.” (See Alma 56:10, 17, 27, 30, 39, 44-46.) Nevertheless, I’m taking John’s words quite literally today. As a father, what is my greatest desire, and what brings me the greatest happiness? Is it not the success, and growth of my children, and particularly their spiritual well-being?
Sister Susan W. Tanner said:
Parenting is physically exhausting, emotionally draining, and mentally demanding….but it provides life’s greatest joys. Joy comes when at family home evening a five-year-old tells a scripture story with complete and correct details or when a child reads the Book of Mormon faithfully every night. I feel joy when my cheerleader has the courage to tell her squad that the new cheer they are learning has inappropriate actions in it, and when a missionary daughter writes of her testimony of the gospel. Joy comes as I watch a daughter read to a blind woman and a son serve in the temple. In these moments, I feel as John the Beloved: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 Jn. 1:4).
“Did I Tell You … ?” General Conference, April 2003
Alma said to his son Shiblon, “I trust that I shall have great joy in you, because of your steadiness and your faithfulness unto God” (Alma 38:2). And Lehi said to his children, “That my soul might have joy in you, and that my heart might leave this world with gladness because of you…put on the armor of righteousness” (2 Nephi 1:21, 23). If our greatest joy comes from the spiritual growth of our children, then we should put our greatest efforts into teaching them and helping them grow.
Today, I will prioritize parenting. I will dedicate time and energy to strengthening, encouraging, and guiding my children.