Parenting

Our Pastor started a sermon series on parenting this past Sunday.  It is certainly a 24/7 job, it is all consuming and can drain us physically and emotionally, but the fruits of our labor will not be in vain when we strive to raise and instruct our children in the love and in the ways of Christ.

  
We have such a short time with them, 18 years maybe 20 years with them under our roof.  In my Pastor's case he said there would be plenty of time for hunting and fishing later.  In my case I guess I could say there will be plenty of time for a clean house later.

  
There will be plenty of time for me to have things neat and organized later.  Right now I need to be plugged in and engaged in their lives, an active participant in their spiritual growth, what's going on at school, who they're friends with and what they think and feel about themselves.  

It's time well spent, considering we are about half way there with this guy here.  In another 10 years he will be 20 and I will be wishing that I could have these days to spend with him again.  Days where these boys still want to be with me, still want me and their daddy to come "watch them."  


I took these pictures of them on our new trampoline about a week after Christmas and in the days following, I found myself watching them from the back door with tears slowly rolling out of the corners of my eyes.

We will not be in this place for long, this stage where they are this age.  I will not take a single minute for granted.  I continued to watch them soaking in every minute, contentment settling in over me and over this place.  

Their smiles are amazing and like every other parent I want my kids to be happy, but not just happy b/c of all the "stuff" that surrounds them in this world.  Happy, loved, fulfilled, content b/c they are loved not only by their parents and family but by the One who created them. 

It's not enough for us just to be present, we must be intentional.  Intentional in the time we spend with them, the time spent helping them grow in their relationship with Christ and intentional in guiding the relationships they have with friends.

I want their home to be a place where they feel safe and protected from the things they face in today's world. This parenting thing is only going to be doable under God's leadership and Lordship over this house.

Joshua 24:15 "as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Thanks for checking in on us.