Johnny prayed with a Muslim boy at school today to receive Jesus - he's such an evangelist!
We're watching the Passion of the Christ with our entire family tonight!
My kids have more than 100 Bible verse memorized!
My son and daughter-in-law had their first kiss on their wedding day!
Confession time. I haven't asked Anne or Joseph if they want Jesus to come into their heart.
After all, to be honest, it seems like He's already there. Joseph is too young for much of this at just 18 months. But our Anne has many deeply spiritual conversations, she prays often and loves to worship God. From all indications, especially her tender little heart, she is already enjoying a beautiful relationship with Abba.
But, even if that wasn't the case, I wonder if she's old enough to make those decisions or understand the implication of them without my prodding and manipulations. Would it really be her crossing the threshold of faith? Or would it be her seeking to please me and do what she's told?
Another confession: Even many of the Bible stories aren't told around here. Brian confiscated many of the children's Bible stories because they were too much for the tinies to absorb without nightmares. Joseph? Brothers threw him in a pit. David? Killed a guy. Jericho? War and an entire city decimated. Noah? Wiping out of humanity. We've started to read the children's version of The Message Bible with Anne but even there, she is so upset by some aspects (Why they hurt my Jesus, Mum? He's got no clothes on! It's too dark in that cave for my Jesus.)
When's the right time to tell well-loved children about the evils of humanity? How do you explain to someone that is tucked into bed every night with two stories read by Mummy and feather-light back scratches by Daddy about why the world needs a Saviour?
One last confession: And for the little evangelists, if my tinies came home from school and reported that they had just been told they were going to hell on the playground or had been talked into converting to a different religion, I'd be royally pissed and writing a bit of a letter to the principal. Just being honest. Put yourself in the shoes of that other kid's parent? You wouldn't be thrilled either. Seems like a cheap shot to me.
How do you do raise tinies to know and love God well without resorting to creating a Star Chart in the Sky with rewards for good behaviour and hell for the bad? How do you do it with authenticity and transparency? How do I ensure that they don't mistake activity at church buildings or adherence to creeds or longtime virginity for being a follower of Jesus?
One last confession: And for the little evangelists, if my tinies came home from school and reported that they had just been told they were going to hell on the playground or had been talked into converting to a different religion, I'd be royally pissed and writing a bit of a letter to the principal. Just being honest. Put yourself in the shoes of that other kid's parent? You wouldn't be thrilled either. Seems like a cheap shot to me.
How do you do raise tinies to know and love God well without resorting to creating a Star Chart in the Sky with rewards for good behaviour and hell for the bad? How do you do it with authenticity and transparency? How do I ensure that they don't mistake activity at church buildings or adherence to creeds or longtime virginity for being a follower of Jesus?
So much of what passes for raising children in Christian community is manipulative, reductionist, simplifying behaviour modification techniques. And to be honest, most "good church kids" I knew growing up were incredibly prideful. (And bad spellers...but that's another post.)
I turn often to how Jesus spoke of children. (He loves kids.) He gave children as our example of what we should be like. I look at how my children already love God, see Him at work in their lives, living in a reality of his Love and goodness and think "This is quite simple, really."
I haven't a clue what I'm doing most of the time. (I know - shocking!)
But before anything else, I've decided to try to teach them (mostly by living) of Love. The wild love that is God. The extravagant, deep and wide and all-around love. May they always live like they are loved! And may they always love others out of that deep well of love.
Sometimes I think it's pretty simple really, this raising tinies to know and love God. I don't feel the need to manipulate or create false scenarios. As I walk the path of love, in the heart beat of God's love for humanity, they are right alongside of me.
Oh, the love. It's unconditional.
I'm not so worried about the Church Things. Like Sunday school attendance or vast amounts of scripture memorization or Bible "Sword Drills" or 4 colour bracelets for the salvation story or being able to sing "Father Abraham" with the actions. Oh, we speak and even memorize Scripture, we pray, we serve, we worship, we sing happy-clappy Jesus songs...we practice many spiritual disciplines as a family.
But I don't want them to think life in God is a Star Chart in the Sky. So I'm trying my best to make sure I don't set up my own Parenting Star Chart in the Sky first.
It's hard to let go of the Good Christian Parent Competition. But I am learning.
I'm learning to live and raise them in a small taste of Kingdom Love and Life instead of competitions and memorization.
Even if they never repeat a prescribed prayer from the back of the pamphlet and can't walk you through the Romans Road at 7 years of age, my only longing is that they love Him and know how well they are loved by Him. And then love others well.
(Thanks to Heather of the Extraordinary Ordinary whose inspiration and peer pressure gave me guts to press publish.)
I'm widening our tent, lengthening the lines and setting stakes in Papa's orchard, pulling in love, mercy, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control as the true new birth marks of Love.
I'm learning to live and raise them in a small taste of Kingdom Love and Life instead of competitions and memorization.
Even if they never repeat a prescribed prayer from the back of the pamphlet and can't walk you through the Romans Road at 7 years of age, my only longing is that they love Him and know how well they are loved by Him. And then love others well.
(Thanks to Heather of the Extraordinary Ordinary whose inspiration and peer pressure gave me guts to press publish.)
