The Good. The Bad. The Ugly: Confession Time

Last night as we set around on the little’s toddler bed my husband read to us a story from our Bible book. I questioned how much our children were actually obtaining. Our eldest son appeared to be daydreaming, our middle son raising his hand ready to interrupt, our youngest son on the floor hitting toys together, our sassy daughter sitting on my lap being a little toot. I was so distracted! I don’t even remember myself which Bible story was read.

Then today I received this text message from a dear friend in response to a post I posted on Facebook:

Confession: Sometimes when I think of spiritually training my children, I get overwhelmed and feel hopeless. We read Bible stories at night time and sometimes during the day. We pray as needs come up throughout the day. I try to look for teachable moments with them. But I feel inadequate. Do you have any suggestions for things I can do with them?

Last week during my personal Bible study I read this...

What actions demonstrate to your children your reliance on God and remind them of what He has done…

Read that one more time...Wow! Convictions. I also read...

Sometimes we think so much what we are to do that we neglect thinking about who we are to be...

Who am I? I’m a child of the one true king, Jesus Christ! I am to be a light. A light to my children that directs them to Jesus. 

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Double wow! My toes were being stepped on left and right. Do my children see the light of life in me? Or am I leading them to darkness? My prayer is that each of my children will TRULY receive Jesus Christ as their Lord Savior. That they will have a TRUE personal relationship with Him that changes who they are and what they do. 

I'm convinced that it easy to fool toddlers and maybe even preschoolers, but as children reach a certain age you can no longer fool them. I could tell my children that their daddy is the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. My littles would believe it! They wouldn't question the evidence. My eldest, however, he wouldn’t believe it. He hasn’t seen his daddy practice with the team, he hasn’t seen him in uniform, and he certainly hasn’t seen him playing on game days. See we can only fool them for so long before they see the TRUTH and question who we truly are.

You know the old saying ACTIONS speak louder than words. Our children are watching us. Trust me. If you read my blog, you know we are not perfect. Our children see the imperfections of my husband and me, but they also see the love we have for our perfect Savior. We are to be their Bible living out His Word on the good days, bad days, and most importantly those ugly days. Leading them to a true relationship with Christ. Listen to this statistic...

“Only 15% of the Millennials (born between 1980 and 2000) are Christians." I can only imagine what it is now.

I used to fool my upper grade students. I would ask them if they knew Michael Jordan? They would say, yes. So, I would challenge their yes with questions…What team did he play for? What was his jersey number? They would answer all the questions right. Then I asked. When was the last time you went to his house? I haven't. When was the last time you talked to him on the phone? I haven't. See they knew all the facts about him, but they didn't KNOW him. There is a difference.

So to answer your question...Do you have any suggestions for things I can do with them?

“Love the Lord your God, walk in His ways, obey His commands, hold fast to Him and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.” Joshua 22:5

Friend, let your light shine so bright for Jesus. I know your children are going to see the Light of Life I see in you with each kiss and hug, as you teach them right from wrong, as you read them Bible stories, pray with them, take them to Sunday school and Bible programs, as you do your personal Bible devotional and pray, as you serve your church and others in love. They will see the TRUTH in your faith and relationship with Christ. In your actions and love for Christ, you are spiritually training your children to have a personal relationship with a Savior that changes who we are and what we do.  

Let's be a generation that lights a path for our children to have a TRUE relationship with Jesus. That is who we are!