I want my children to be independent headstrong people. Just not while I’m raising them. My goodness…does this ever ring so true in the midst of raising a teen and pre-teen! (insert head slap)
“Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.” Psalm 112:2 (NIV)
This Christmas tip I came across is pretty genius actually! …Wrap empty boxes for presents and when your child misbehaves or doesn’t listen throw one in the fire.
“…which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire…” Matthew 6:30 (NIV)
My sister sent this to me and said it sounds like us! It really does–I can totally see us saying this to each other! Well, eBay or Etsy sound better than this Old Testament option…
“Suppose a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey his father or mother, even though they discipline him. In such a case, the father and mother must take the son to the elders as they hold court at the town gate. The parents must say to the elders, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious and refuses to obey. He is a glutton and a drunkard.’ Then all the men of his town must stone him to death. In this way, you will purge this evil from among you, and all Israel will hear about it and be afraid.” Deuteronomy 21:18-21 (NLT)
It’s so important to me to teach my kids to have a real relationship with God, beyond salvation. In fact, I’d say that’s part of my life’s mission and calling. I want not only to help my kids learn how to have relationship with God but to teach others this as well. It’s a part of why I started this blog. Today I was reading through the Jen Hatmaker Bible plan “For the Love“. She was discussing how kids are ultimately going to make their own decisions especially spiritually. We can’t control or guarantee the outcome as parents. She said “the best we can do is give them Jesus”. He is unchanging (Hebrews 13:8).
Jen shared how when we don’t know what to do, when we are grasping as a spiritual mentor, or when right words and answers fail us, Jesus can deliver. Kids may doubt us, but they can’t doubt Jesus because he is unfailing and dependable. He always endures. Jesus can lead and guide our kids during those times when we can’t and even after our job of raising them is done. We need to remember that our children belong to God.
I kind of had a vulnerable moment with God during reading this because one of my heart’s greatest desires is to raise good, godly, world-altering kids who love God faithfully with their whole heart and have a genuine relationship with God. My kids are still young, but sometimes I worry about their relationship with God (not their salvation because I personally prayed the believer’s prayer with both of them). I especially worry about my 12-year-old son at times. He doesn’t seem too terribly interested in spiritual things or in true relationship with God. That hurts my heart because I don’t know how to fix that. You hear stories of kids being raised in good Christian homes and then turning away from God. I don’t want that. So reading this devotional helped a little…I just need to give them Jesus.
I stopped my reading and prayed an earnest and heartfelt prayer (James 5:16) telling Jesus my concerns and desires for my kids. I told him that right answers have failed me. I told him that I’m concerned that I can’t guarantee their “spiritual success”. I asked him for help. I asked him to show me what I could do (what steps I could take) to do my part in “giving them Jesus”. After pouring my heart out for a minute or two, I continued reading my Bible. This verse was part of the plan and the last phrase comforted me…
“For the Lord is good, His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation.” Psalm 100:5 (NLT)
Each generation… That means He will be just as faithful to my kids as He’s been to me. 😀
Oh so true. Not even in the privacy of your bathroom can you escape from your kids. They WILL find you. My sister found and sent this to me the other day because we were just talking about this very subject around Mother’s Day when we were reminiscing about never giving our poor mother privacy…even when she went to the bathroom. Sorry mom!
“You will find no place to hide; there will be no way to escape.” Jeremiah 25:35 (NLT)
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