Intelligence, success, happiness, fame, talent, health. I am supposed to want these things for my children. I have heard many times, "I just want my kids to grow up to be successful, responsible, contributors to society." Or I've heard this one many times, "I just want my children to grow up to be happy." These sayings sound so wonderful and yet so hollow and empty at the same time.
As a parent, I was given these fragile, impressionable, priceless little lives to mold. What do I want for them? What is my ultimate goal in raising them? Do I want them to be healthy? Do I want them to be successful? Do I want them to be smart? Do I want them to "realize their full potential?" NO! My ultimate goal; the only thing that matters to me is that they know and love Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Without this nothing matters. The thought of them not choosing, not knowing Christ, makes me dizzy and sick to my stomach. However, if they know Christ and they get cancer (God forbid), I know that they will be comforted in Christ and that I will see them again in Heaven; If they are not the sharpest tool in the shed, they know that Christ's power is made perfect in their weakness; If they are not the CEO of a Fortune 500 Company, they know that they can do whatever it is they choose to the glory of God.
Happiness, success, intelligence are all fleeting, empty, and hollow without Jesus. I feel as though Christian parents have lost sight of this in America today. We say that we want our kids to know Christ, but we are lazy and unintentional about it. Maybe we do not really believe that our kids will go to Hell, ETERNAL TORMENT, if they do not choose to follow Christ. It is not real to us so instead we spend all our time encouraging our kids to follow their dreams, to use their brain, and to behave, all for the sake of raising happy responsible contributors to society. We may even incorporate church on Sundays and prayer before meals because we want them to have God as a part of their lives. We forget that God does not allow us to have Him as a part of our lives. God requires the WHOLE of our lives.
I have had this burden on my heart as I watch well-intentioned Christian parents miss that the ultimate goal in our parenting should be to lead our children to the cross, to point them to Jesus, and to exemplify His love. I am in the process of discovering that this is a huge task, a high calling, and not for the faint of heart. It requires much patience, endurance, and most of all Christ's power. My daily meetings with Him are vital as I count on His strength and wisdom and power to constantly point my children to Christ as we go about our daily lives.
I take my calling as a parent very seriously and I have no desire to fail my children. I pray that one day, when my kids are grown and I am still on this earth serving Jesus, I will look to my right and my left and see my children serving alongside me taking down the gates of Hell and growing God's kingdom. Furthermore, I pray that when Ricky and I are in Heaven bowing before the King of Kings, Noah, Maia, and Malakai will be right there with us singing His praises at the top of their lungs.
In light of that picture, intelligence, health, and success seem pretty meaningless...
10 comments:
I, unfortunately, am one of those parents that easily lose sight of Jesus in the day to day parenting. We do church and we pray and we talk about God, but I tend to put more emphasis on everything else you mentioned cuz I take it for granted that she's always going to believe the way she believes now. Thank you for this powerful reminder of what parenting is really about.
catching up on your blog. I think this is my fav post so far! I could of wrote this myself...so true! I love your multitasking pics as well. Your so beautiful!!!!
I love your dedication in being the best parent ever. You are doing great and I can tell you are a very godly woman. :)
This. Taleah this post is incredible. And so absolutely true. Jesus is all that matters.
Very well said and I will give my current parenting methods a Renewed look and make some quick changes. Thanks for the insites. It is today's times when us parents need reminders as yours. May God continue to Bless us and make us Strong to move towards his callings. Family of 7, 22years Married and Mother of a recent Marine Recruit. We School our children until High School to guide them in Life. Proverbs 22:6 Train up a Child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. XO
Well said. I have forwarded this to my son and his wife in hopes that it will serve as a reminder to them as to what their most important goal as a parent should be.
Taleah: Well said young Lady! I've sent a copy to our son and his wife in the hopes that it will serve as a reminder as to what their most important job is as parents. Wish every Christian parent could read this every day! Blessings! Carolyn Laurin
Taleah, I agree wholeheartedly with God and you. We miss you over here in CCV land and pray for our unity as believers. I thank God for your boldness and know you are not alone as we partnership in the gospel.
That was beautiful Taleah! And you can tell that it was clearly from your heart as well! I feel that you can reach more parents by speaking on this very subject. God is using you in an amazing way!
Taleah, when Erin was pregnant with Micah our prayer was ten fingers, ten toes, healthy and grows up to praise God. God blessed us with the first three things and now He has entrusted us to make sure we instill in Micah the importance of the last one. Great post!
-Tim
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