Letters to My Children: A Heritage

In every culture known to man, families desire a legacy, a heritage, a chronicle attached to their name. This legacy comes through children. The desire to have a family is like an instinct the Lord planted in the ground of our souls. “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord…” (Psalm 127:3)

This verse presents us with a definition of children. They are something very valuable…something to be preserved and passed from generation to generation. Some people waste their heritage and inheritance. They could care less about their children. Some parents don‘t see them as an investment, but it's just the opposite: kids are something precious that deserves great care and attention.

Children are an inheritance from the Lord. This means that children aren’t just a physical amalgamation of their father and mother’s physical make-up…they are a gift from God. With this gift comes responsibility. We provide our children with food, shelter, education, and (greatest of all)…we have to provide them with an understanding of who God is, and what He expects.

God does not simply give us children. He entrusts them to us. Their lives belong to the Lord. Like any inheritance, kids aren’t just for us. They are meant for a Greater Purpose. Our job is to ensure that our children grow up to be strong believers, dedicated to the kingdom of God's dear Son. Children are an inheritance, not just a possession. May we give them to the Lord, who gave them to us in the first place.

Letters to My Children: Training

My daughter won’t grow up to be an example of righteousness by herself. My son won’t learn godliness or uprightness simply by existing in this world. God has stressed, time and again, the necessity of training children in His ways…and consistent training will help them become one of God’s children later on in life.

Solomon (the wisest man to walk on the earth in Old Testament time) gives us God’s wisdom on the matter of training children: “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6). The importance of training a child in the ways of the Lord can never be overstated. However, this MUST involve the presence of the parents of a child. Presence = time.

See, teaching has to become training. Training involves a supervisor (one who knows the right way to do things by experience). Parents are to be trainers, not just teachers. Kathi Hudson, in her book Raising Kids God’s Way, says that “training always involves teaching, but teaching seldom includes training.”

We, as parents, have to train our kids in the things of God…not just teach them the things of God! We need to be an example of what it means to live as a Christian. We’re the way they see the light of God. How has your light been shining?

Letters to My Children: The Neutrality Myth

Every day brings with it the opportunity to see God. Whether it be in the birds that fight over the feeder seed in the front yard, or the smiles on the faces of the elderly during a visit…God’s hand can be seen everywhere. Creation demands a Creator. That certain and infallible conclusion of Intelligent Design (fashioning a creation which is far above what is accidental or mortal) leaves us, as Paul says, “without excuse.” (Romans 1:20) There is no neutral ground when it comes to the truth that “God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)

In the same way, there is no neutral ground when it comes to helping my daughter (and soon-to-be-born son) see God’s life-lessons in everyday objects and tasks. Each new day will bring an opportunity for me to teach them to see God.

For example, in the garden, they will see how a handful of seeds can cover a whole hillside with food. The lesson: those seeds aren’t brought to life by water and fertilizer…God gives the increase. They will realize that it is truly “better to give than to receive” when some of the fruits of that garden are given to the people at church, or an elderly person who is unable to put out a garden for themselves (Acts 20:35). They will be taught to work…to earn what they have…to appreciate putting in their due labor because “if a man doesn’t work, neither should he eat.” (II Thessalonians 3:10) They will be taught patience by having to wait on the Lord for the changing of the seasons…for the rain and sunshine necessary for vegetation to grow.

Either I give God the credit and glory (teaching them to see Him and rely on Him), or I give credit to something else. There is no neutral ground. I either teach them to see God…or I don’t. What opportunity have you been missing to teach your kids about God?

Letters to My Children: Preventable Injury

As parents, we take every precaution imaginable to “child-proof” the dangers in our homes. We place cleaning supplies and sharp objects well outside the reach of our children because we want to protect them. Physically, we don’t want any injury to befall our children which we could have prevented. What about spiritually?

Kacie and I have pretty much come to the point where we won’t watch some of our favorite T.V. shows on NBC until Kenlea is asleep (as a side-note: I have to admit that Kacie was the better Christian parent on this one, and I thank the good Lord for her every day). Programs that we used to have no problem watching…have now become a problem. It’s interesting how we don’t notice how many cuss words and profanities are used in a movie (or sitcom) until we watch them in the presence of a pure and innocent child. Physically, we don’t want any injury to befall our children which we could’ve prevented…what about spiritually?

“Train up a child in the way he should go…” (Proverbs 22:6) “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-8) What spiritual injury are you allowing into your child’s life…which you could be preventing?

Letters to My Children: Introduction

As a Christian parent, I have a huge responsibility to raise my children in the discipline and instruction of Lord (Ephesians 6:4). At times, it seems like such an overwhelming task. Looking at my own life-long struggles and spiritual weaknesses…all the times I’ve failed the Lord, I often feel like Moses standing in front of that burning bush (after the Lord revealed that he was the man to face Pharaoh) crying out, “Who am I?” (Exodus 3:11). Who am I to be entrusted with such a task? It’s a very humbling feeling to know that I will be responsible (before God and man) for how I have chosen to parent my kids.

Honestly, I don’t know how my parents did it: raising three children who became devout Christians, who then married devout Christians, and all of us are now trying to raise our kids by the same biblical pattern they did...that’s a pretty amazing record. I’m beginning to realize (more and more every day) the awesome inspiration my parents were to me while I was growing up…and the impact they have on me even now. My daughter is learning new words every day, and I have the opportunity (just like my parents did) to make sure some of the words coming from her 19-month old, jabber mouth have their origin in the absolute truth of Scripture.

These next few posts will serve as a reference point for my children when they grow older, as well as being a reminder to myself of how my decisions and actions will affect them. May God grant me the strength to be a good, Christian father.

Books to Red Flag in Elementary Curriculum

extension of previous post:

Stumbling into a Parent/Teacher Conference

My daughter will turn 2 on June 22. It will be another two years before we even think about pre-school…but we’re planning on enrolling her in public school. That scares me. Up till that point, my wife and I will be able to nurture her mind in the things of God, and shield her from things that are wrong. However, once she starts pre-school, our job will become more diligent as parents.

The majority of this nation’s school-aged children (about 90%) attend public, government-funded schools (wikipedia.com). Think about that fact for a minute…that’s about 50 million kids! These kids have very moldable minds. They’re heavily influenced by the curriculum they’re being taught during the years from pre-school through high school. So…do you know what the schools are teaching your children? If you don’t, then (as a parent) you better find out.

Consider this from a biblical perspective…Christ said: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6) I’m only 19 months into parenting, but you better believe that I’m already planning to go to every Parent/Teacher conference, I’m going to look over every curriculum that my little girl (and future little boy) is demanded to accomplish. Why? Because it will be a shame on me (as a parent) if I don’t do everything in my power to make sure my kids are learning the truth about life from a Christ-like viewpoint. She won’t learn God’s Word in the public school system, and she won‘t learn about God‘s way of doing things…that she’ll have to get from home.

Too many parents could care less about what their kids are learning in school…because they’re only satisfied with seeing their children’s rear ends in the desks. Don’t get me wrong, the public school system is a valuable asset that we have in this country, and these schools WILL teach our children…but that NEVER negates our responsibility to instruct them in the way of the Lord. Know what your kids are learning.