Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Proverbs 22:6
As we wind down this study we come to last section of this wonderful book and that is “What about our kids” in this journey of our spiritually mismatched marriage.
(what do we do? Where do we start?)
My kids were not the ones who went to church every week with two parents leading them into the church building, or praying with them, or reading the Bible with them, nope it was just me. Now I am not complaining mind you, but it would have been “wonderful” for both of us to do the leading.
When I had children I was constantly thinking how in the world am I going to raise them in a godly home when the home was not a complete godly unit…and then I remembered how my granddaddy used to teach me saying “Beverly, there is nothing you can do about others, you must just work on yourself, love Jesus yourself, and as He teaches you then you teach them.”
I listened to him and just like I did the 9 years of my marriage before having children I did the same after the children were born……I went to church and took my children with me so they could learn about my Jesus, and learn about WHO will be and make the difference in their life as they grow up.
Even though I took them to church I constantly thought:
- Am I doing things right
- Am I teaching them the truth
- Will they accept Jesus as Savior one day
- Will they learn to be a prayer warrior
- Will they love Jesus
- Will they wake each morning with a desire to live every moment for Him
- Will they seek a godly mate for their life
- Will they love God’s Word and want to spend time getting to know Him
My children were learning about God and getting to know Him…both accepted Christ as Savior and then the first big day came when my daughter left for college and then all those same thoughts began creeping back in my head…..except a few different ones…now my thoughts were:
- Will she remember what she learned growing up
- Will she stick to the truth in this world of peer pressure
- Will she not give in to the idea of dating just anyone but continue her commitment to seeking God for her life mate
- Will she still remain in God’s Word
Oh so many thoughts were swirling around in my head and I could not seem to get enough of wanting to know that she was not straying from the path she was taught.
Then I got the call…the phone call….Mamma I met this guy that I really like….go to the school BCM website and look at his picture….he is so cute Mamma….and I told her hmmmm….let me take a look and so I did…..and my first thought was REALLY? HIM? (you know we all do that, those initial judgmental thoughts just based on someone’s looks)……and let me say right now……
MY JUDGMENTAL THOUGHTS WERE WRONG
This was the man God set aside for my girl….as her life mate….at that time he was the campus missionary at the college she attended and 3 years later they were engaged/married, now he is the youth pastor at the church they attend…..and oh how God is moving in their life…..and just think if I had done my normal mamma meddling I would’ve been messing up God’s plan for her life.
So here we are, one child trained and on the path God set for her…..but still one more at home and still my same thoughts creeping in now for this one…
In his high school years my son began showing the same aspects as my husband (not wanting to go to church, I had to “make him go”) and then the day came when he went off to college…..and here I go with my thoughts again…..and now these thoughts were way different from when my daughter left home….because now that he was in the thought process of “not wanting to go to church” I knew that the peer pressure of the world would start sinking in heavy on him…..and yes that is where he is now…..NOT GOING….NOT SERVING….not following that path he had been taught as a child…..
BUT….
I have the wonderful promise of Proverbs 22:6 that I cling to that He will turn to it……and as he comes home for visits/holidays he sees me continuing to love and serve Jesus, he sees me living out what I taught him all the young years of his life. He has watched me in times spent in study/devotion…..this has and is the silent witness to my son. He has heard me lifting him up in prayer to God–this is the audible witness to my son.
I await that day to see his faith has not wavered, that he remembers the training he received growing up and that he will make the Lord “priority” in his life. And I await to see/hear when he says “yes Lord I am here ready to serve” I have not given up….
Oh, What a day that will be!
So to answer the question of this lesson today; Where to start? Here’s the answer from Pg. 170 of our study. Help our love for Jesus be so contagious; it can’t help but rub off on our loved ones and when our kids see us loving God in this way, they will love Him too!
Let’s Pray: God I thank you for each lady that has been a part of this study and I pray that your love will seep out through our daily life in subtle effective ways that will influence our children, in your name I pray. Amen!
Your assignment: Share any thoughts that God brought to your mind as you studied today’s lesson about our kids?
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Our next Women’s Online Bible Study
“Crazy Love” by Francis Chan
Begins January 6, 2013.
To sign up for this new Online Bible Study, click HERE and follow the instructions. You will also be given a link to where you can purchase this bible study. We’re looking forward to learning about this “Crazy Love” with you!!
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