While yes, I know my job is to love my children and raise them in a godly way .... and I know that I need to be an example to them of how we should treat others. I also know that how I am with them will directly effect their relationship with God...
But it just suddenly hit me. Are my actions towards them pointing their little spirits toward Jesus? Are my actions giving them a sample of Jesus' love, forgiveness, kindness, self-control...? When my kids are old enough to decide for themselves if they want a relationship with God and that they want to follow His Word, will they think back to their childhood and how they were treated by their mom and feel invited towards what she had?
Or will my children see that God acts on his anger? Will they see that God is lacking in self-control? Will they see that being in a relationship with God is a casual thing and really has no relevance in their life? That it's not something they really need?
And while I feel like I can say with confidence that they will know that I love them and that I love God and that I want them to be in a relationship with Him.... will they also feel confusion about WHO God is because of my actions? About how to be rich in good deeds (Dino Rizzo's message)? About how to treat their own children or their spouse?
If I can show kindness, patience and mercy to those outside of my home, but not to the tiny people that God has trusted me with, then I am the problem. I am what is wrong with the world.
I want to be the one the POINTS to the Solution of our messy lives. I want to be the one that shows them a SAMPLE of who God is, what He has for us here, and even what heaven is like. I want to be someone who INVITES my own children into the most amazing and beautiful relationship I have ever experienced. I want them to know the fullness of His forgiveness, His grace and mercy, His compassion and His love, just as I do.
But if I am the one, not the world, who is the problem.... what hope do they have? God trusted Jeff and I to lead these little people to Him. Trusted us to show them how go out into all the world and show that hurting and lost world the love of a Savior who died for their mistakes.
Putting these 3 things (Point, Sample, Invite) at the forefront of my mind these past few days and acting on them has helped me immensely in how I deal with the everyday things that happen around here. I will never be perfect, I won't always get it right. My children will be asked to forgive me over and over. But if they can see that I am constantly going back to Jesus, that I am constantly pointing back to Him... they will see Him and not me.
They will see HIM... and not me.
Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. -Proverbs 11:24 & 25-
Parents: insert your child's name where others is at. Megan who refreshes Ian, Megan who refreshes Andrew, Megan who refreshes Ivy.... you, in return, will be refreshed. This goes for your spouse too. Even if your family believes in Jesus, why shouldn't you allow God to use you to show His love to them?
For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the GIFT of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for each of us to do. -Ephesians 2:8-10
"I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples." -Mother Teresa
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