I write this response not because it was wrong, but because it was incomplete.
It was a very strong indicator of a parenting issue I've seen grow by leaps and bounds in my generation of parenting. There's a purposeless people crisis going on right now- fostered by crippling parenting techniques.
So we’ve hopped aboard the parenting pendulum that swings to either “modern” parenting that enables children- thereby disabling them from increasing their skill set and contributing to the world, or “old school” parenting- giving the kids a 24/7 dose of the loving reality that they aren’t the center of anyone’s world.
So as a Christian parent, how do I handle the truth that our
Heavenly Father sacrificed His one and only Son so that we could be reconciled
to Him? That action clearly indicates that I am worth dying for. I have value.
How do I parent my kids and combat the lie that they are the most important
person in the world, without swinging into the lie that they really aren’t that
special?
By changing the focus. I like to call it our third
dimension. Believers get another option. Ultimately, it’s not about us or them.
It’s about Him.
Center of the Universe- we simply aren’t it. But that’s not
because we aren’t that special compared to the population of the planet. It is
because God is so surpassingly special.
I didn’t grow up learning to serve others and love others
because that was the way to serve society. I didn’t grow up learning a good
work ethic because that was how America was built, or because I owed it to the
community around me.
I grew up learning those things because I grew up knowing
God first loved me and acted on my behalf.
It’s not discipline that grows good kids into good adults.
It’s love. It has always been love.
That doesn’t mean living for your kids. It doesn’t mean
living in spite of your kids. It means living with your kids, and living
for God.
It means teaching your kids that they have value beyond what
the world says. And as a matter of fact, so does everyone else. So it means
teaching your kids to treat every single human being as God would treat them-
with love. Because everyone- every single person has value. God doesn’t screw
up. He doesn’t make mistakes. (1 Cor 1:25-31)
It means teaching them that, while the world may be harsh,
while they may be shoved and disregarded by mean people, they have the ability
to take all those hurts and anguishes to a God who loves them. Who sympathizes
with them because He endured it all. And endured it for them.
It means teaching them that it will all be worth it. That
when you die to self and live for Christ, all that other crap isn’t that big of
a deal.
It means teaching them consequences. Because God uses
discipline to prune out the branches in our life that would block out His
presence and shrivel our faith. It hurts- daily- but our faith is strengthened
most in the times we realize our need for Him.
It means teaching them perseverance. To not give up. To
never quit or grow weary of doing good. It means teaching them to follow
through because God has it all worked out and will complete that good work in
us. (Galatians 6:9)
It means teaching them thankfulness. Teaching them to pray
in thankfulness because every moment is a gift. Every moment has been given to
us- good and bad- by a faithful God who never deigns for us to go it alone.
It means teaching them to be prepared. Because attacks will
come. They’ll be disguised in human flesh, but the devil is on the prowl.
(Ephesians 5:10) And God doesn’t leave them stranded ever. He prepares hearts,
and the battle is His alone. They need only be still and let Him do His work.
It means teaching them to forgive like you’ve been forgiven.
It means teaching them that God’s near enough to talk to.
It means that our
lives are all wrapped in to one big story- His story. And that they are so
crucial to it because His love for them is one of a kind. His love in their
life glorifies His ultimate goodness.
It means teaching them to wait, because God’s timing is
always best. (Galatians 4:4)
It means teaching them to live passionately, because there
is more to life than working hard and accumulating knowledge. More than skills
and money. Even more than faith. Without love from God, you can wipe your
be-hind with all good stuff of the world, cause it’s worthless. That’s why it
doesn’t fulfill. It wasn’t meant to. (1 Cor 13)
It means teaching them to live by faith, not by sight. It
means teaching them to live courageously, because courage looks beyond the
trials to the end goal. There will be times when their circumstances seem too
much to handle- but godly courage lifts their eyes to the One who holds their
future. It may be risky, but God is right there. (2 Corinthians 6:5-7)
We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.
but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.
Psalm 78:4
You have a great gift for putting your faith into words and setting an example! Thanks for this.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Jayme! I'm glad you found the truth in it:)
ReplyDeleteOh dear friend. This is all kinds of awesomness. If I would have read yesterday it would be reflected as my favorite blog read from the week on my Friday Randomness post. "It’s love. It has always been love." Amen!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Beth:) it was one of those posts that I felt I HAD to write, so I was glad it came out ok:)
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