Originally Written on September 18, 2014
Today’s Word: As my children left on the bus today, I thought to myself, “If I could only give them one thing what would that be?” When they have grown up and have left home, what do I want them to think about when they look back? I pray that it will not only be my humor and abundance of fun we have together. I pray it will not be a broken relationship or bitterness. Yet the only thing I desire for my children is that they leave my house with Christ.
My children create in me a great source of pride. They are so cute… They are quiet when needed and very self-controlled. They are able to see the character of God in how we live at home; however, I feel like I am falling behind on sharing the knowledge of God. Sometimes we can get so busy that we fail to accomplish our primary goals and dreams. Sometimes reading the Bible together can become a chore, or is replaced by other “super important” things. So, for me, when I feel busy, I take time to step back and analyze why I am so busy and if my plethora of activities are truly helping me strive for God’s plan in my life.
Scripture tells us in Proverbs 22:6 ” Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Now If your kitchen floor is level, go and find a marble. Now take your Bible and place it in the middle of the floor to symbolize Christ. What would happen if we were to slowly role that ball across the floor towards that Bible? We would find that the marble turns rather quickly as it follows the ebbs and flows of the journey. Sadly, these slow rollers rarely make it to their intended goals, for even on a level surface, the first obstacles they face lead them far from away from the intended path.
The Word for today is this: God has blessed us with a few precious marbles. And our primary task as parents is to lead our children to Christ. Satan is changing the culture of parenting in America. He would love for us to believe that it is not our job to “force” Christianity on our children. He wants us to step back as parents and let our children learn about God by themselves. Yet, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”’ (Rom. 10:14-15)
Let us as parents take a firm hold of our children and send them off in this life with a growing momentum for Christ! Lord, help us to guide them their entire lives, surrendering our comforts and honor to humble ourselves to accomplish this goal. For I would rather be homeless and destitute then to see my children rejected by Christ on that great day. I would rather be wrong or taken advantage of multiple times over than to project un-forgiveness and bitterness towards the precious gifts God has given me. My spouse is also a precious gift, so let’s just say ditto on that… Blessings on you today.