What will my kids be like in 18 years....

-
Today we went to church - and I had already forewarned my husband that it would be a long service.  We had 10 people getting baptized this morning!  Even though Sarah was cranky and did not want to go to Sunday School Class downstairs, I was grateful she did not fuss around and just sat quietly besides us during the service.

Many of the testimonies of these people getting baptized starts with "I've been raised in a Christian home" or "I've been coming to church all my life".  But today I noticed another common comment from the same type of crowd: "I didn't have a relationship with Jesus" or "I fought my parents over why I had to come to church every Sunday" or "I was the trouble maker"

Heard it before?

I have.  I've heard these type of testimonies over and over again.

But now they take on a new meaning to me.  You see, I am a mother of 2 young kids now.  They were born in a Christian home.  They have been going to church since they were 2 weeks old.  A lot of their friends have Christian parents.  They know Santa is only a story and Jesus is the 'best present ever' (quotes from Samuel).

As I sat there listening, I wondered what my kids would say in 18 years, as part of the introduction to their testimonies.

I wondered if my kids will even be standing there giving their testimonies in 18 years time.

I wondered where my kids would be in 18 years. Period.

...and I prayed...and continue to pray.

I may think I have control over so many things as I raise these 2 bundles of joy (and tear sometimes).  I may think I can guide their thoughts, their tastes, their habits...but ultimately, if I do have any control and am indeed guiding them somehow, I better be careful I devote my time in guiding them towards the things that really matter.  What do I care most about in life?  What does God care most about?  Do these 2 questions generate the same answer for me?

It's not whether my son or daughter will become engineers and doctors, whether they will be pianists, or if they will speak 3-5 languages, or if they will date the 'right' man or woman.....

I care about their soul.  I want them to know who they are in this world.  I want them to have assurance beyond doubt that God loves them even more than me.

I want to give them assurance, confidence, love, trust, security.  I want them to be anchored to the only thing that is worth living for:  Jesus.  I want them to have a solid core, not an empty one.   And I know none of these things: careers, partners, talents and gifts, can give you.

Back to this morning....as I listened to all these testimonies and thanked God for the work He was doing in these people's lives, I sent out one and one prayer only -- "God, may you teach me to see the potential and purpose YOU have for Samuel and Sarah.  May I join you in raising these kids to know who they are in you.  May they journey life with You.  May their relationship with you not be inhibited by church, but that church help them experience true community, true love, true security.  More of You and less of me Lord.  Amen"

Oh, I know I will make mistakes along the way, and so will my kids.  But God will not.

I look forward to the day I can sit beside my husband, listening to both Samuel and Sarah give their testimonies of what God has done in their lives.

And I'm sure I will be gladly surprised.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 4:6

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James 1:5

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The little boy and his sister

-
Image
Once upon a time there was a little boy and his sister.  They loved to watch TV and play games.  One day the little boy decided to ask mommy if she could help them do a lemonade stand.  But his mommy at first said no...and then said yes but never really got to it.  So the boy kept asking and asking until one day, his mommy said "yes". Then his mommy asked the boy and his sister what they would do with the money they earned.  The boy had not thought about that so he had no answer.  So his mom suggested they consider raising money to help the kids in Niger they had been hearing about at church. They had heard that there was a country called Niger, in Africa...it was supposed to be far far away.   People had shown them pictures of people who lived there and they had even met a missionary whose family was living there now, helping the people there gain skills so that they can have the means to take care of themselves.  The boy remembered also hearing that many people in N
Read more

Just do it ... and bring along your kids

-
Image
"Mission is risky.  It involves putting ourselves out of our comfort zones and dealing with people we ordinarily might not engage with" - Right Here Right Now Lately I've been learning more about missions.  I have been challenged to rethink my beliefs on what God considers as His mission, where I fit into that picture, how motherhood fits into this calling, and what missional living really means. It has been a great year of stretching my mind, of paradigm shifts, of challenging me to make changes in my life and my family's life. But one thing kept on bugging me.... Jesus was a rebel in his times.  He never set up a church building or assigned people to start different programs or ministries.  He simply lived with the everyday people of his time.  He simply went to where 'they' were.  He met prostitutes, tax collectors, sinners.... How about me?  For as much as I talk about missions and how we ought to be 'missional' here (as opposed to just s
Read more

Fear and Worry

-
Image
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.  Deuteronomy 31: 6 (NKJV) I have, potentially, a lot of time to blog for the next 6 weeks to 3 months. I just came out of surgery today. As my brain and body wakes up a little, I'm taking the chance to eat a little and to share with you. Ever since I found out that my foot pain was not due to just tiredness but due to a tear and that it may not heal on its own I have been filled slowly with a fear and worry I haven't had for years. The last time I felt this fear and worry was perhaps on my first day of graduate studies.... It's a crippling fear that can cause you to fret.  It is very deep.  It is hard to accept because accepting it, in your mind, defines you.  It says to you you are weak.  It says to you you should trust God.  It says to you it's not the end of the world and wonders and mocks
Read more