I just returned from a long and exhausting trip to Texas. It was not only exhausting physically but emotionally as well. We traveled 8 hours to bring our youngest son to college in Texas. It was much harder for me to do than I thought.
On the long and sad ride home (without him), flashbacks of sweet memories of our children as they were growing up flooded my mind and I found myself wondering what I had taught my children. What were the lasting things that will stay with them now that they have flown to conquer their world. Was it enough to sustain them?
When I think about what I learned from my own mother and other female role models in my life…I can think of some really great things that still remain with me. Things like learning to bake a cake, how to balance my checkbook, and how to write thank you notes.
Actually, when you think about it … there isn’t a lot that we do, that at one point in time, we didn’t have to learn. Even when our kids are babies, we still have to teach them to eat, to walk, and to talk. We as parents, have a huge responsibility when it comes to teaching our kids and every single day we are teaching them whether we realize it or not. We teach through our example, with counseling and guiding, by explaining, and we even teach through our discipline.
It is funny to watch my older children interact with the younger ones. Often times, we have overheard the oldest telling the younger ones the same kind of advice I can recall my husband and myself giving him at a younger, more tender age. Whether you realize it or not … our kids are watching, they are listening and they are learning.
The Bible says that the most important thing that parents should teach their children is the lesson of fearing God! It is our job to show our kids what it is like to treat God with reverence, what it sounds like to talk to Him in prayer, what it means to give our worship to Him, and what it is like to trust Him in not only the good times but the bad.
PROV. 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
So, I ask you … the things that you are teaching your children ~ is it enough? Is it enough that they will stand firm in their faith and be all that they can be in Christ? It is my prayer that it is enough!
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I often wonder the same thing. Is it enough? I pray that it is so. I pray that they will have a strong foundation and that they will choose to make their faith their own. I hope that makes sense?
I agree with Stacie…we want to see our chilren's faith become "their own"! Laurie, your article is lovely and a good reminder to take a good look at how and why we do things. Ultimately it is all for the Glory of God and He will supply the needed grace and help day by day. Our loving Heavenly Father has promised us that He will give wisdom if we ask for it! (James 1:5) What a blessing to be His children!
Oh I know just what you mean. Three of my five are gone now. In fact my son will be graduating from Coast Guard boot camp this weekend! It's hard not to worry about them as they face the big world by themselves.
Great thoughts – and I pray that the Lord will use this "time new" in your and your son's life as a special time – of growth, learning and depending on the Savior!
My children are 2 & 1. Everyday I try to find ways to teach the about God, to pray, and learn more and more about God in everything we do. I pray I succeed at teaching them to fear the lord.
"Seek first the kingdom of God…"