I'm sure all of us want nothing more than to "train up our children in the way they should go" so "when they are old, they will not depart from it."
What exactly does this mean? Teach them the Bible? Live out Christ in front of them? Give them a list of "to do's" and "don't's"? Send them to Christian school and hope they get it? Send them to public school so they will get it?
Wow - parenting can be hard and difficult. I think we're all in the same boat, and no one can say they are the perfect parent or they have the perfect kids. One time, I thought I was doing pretty good at this parenting thing...then I had Jacob and learned that the Lord was just being nice to me, giving me a girl first! Boys and girls are so different, but both a blessing. I wouldn't change anything I've been through as a mom -- good, bad, or ugly! (And there have been some very ugly times, for sure!)
For me, I'm always looking for teachable moments...ways to bring what's happening in the news and daily events to a Christian application...ways to speak truth into the lives of our children.
I've decided to start taking some notes...not to brag or lift me up, but to help other parents see how easy it is and give ideas. All you have to do is look for the opportunities. Sometimes we get so busy doing our routine that we don't realize we can bring Christ into every day conversation without it being "preachy" or at a time when you're kids are in trouble.
So here it goes...
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Recently President Obama met with the Queen of England. During my quiet time the morning after their meeting, I realized that his visit would be a good exercise to bring Christ into daily conversation with the kids. Both Jacob and Amber are pretty in tune with current events, so they knew about President Obama's visit with the queen. They each had slightly different perspectives, but my part of the conversation was something like this:
You know how President Obama met with the Queen yesterday?
Well, that was a real privilege, wasn't it? Not many people get to meet with the queen, huh?
You know, I was thinking... God is the King of Kings. He's like the ultimate King, with so much more royalty than the Queen that President Obama met with, isn't He?
Isn't it cool that we can talk to Him anytime we want, and we don't have to have permission or a special event to meet with him?
Do you think the Queen really wanted to meet with President Obama? (Hm-mm....I wonder???)
Think about it. God, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords WANTS us to talk to Him. He pursues us! It doesn't have to be this big production with the media watching - He invites us to have an intimate relationship with Him, one on one! That just blows my mind that the most powerful being would love me so much that he desires a relationship with me! What do you think?
What about the gifts they exchanged? What kind of gifts does God give us? (Salvation, blessings, family, friends...the list can go on and on...)
What kind of gifts can we give God? That's a tougher question. (Amber said she didn't think God wanted an iPod...I think she's right...) The kids could only come up with 2 answers: Ourselves and Obedience...which are really one in the same. The only thing God wants from us is our obedience.
Both Amber and Jacob had different comments, thoughts, and answers...but I could tell that they both started thinking about the parallels. Jacob was really touched and prayed right then that God would help him to make the right choices at school that day.
The older I get, the more I understand Romans 12:1-2. Renew my mind. Living Sacrifice. Holy and Acceptable unto God. Reasonable service. Don't be conformed to the world. Be transformed. Prove what is good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.
The older I get, the more I understand I fall short. Our children need more than just church and Christian school. They need to see Christ in us! As parents, let's challenge and encourage one another to be more like Christ. Proverbs 27:17. Iron sharpens iron!
---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com