jump to navigation

How We Show What is Important February 28, 2007

Posted by Erin in : General Lessons , add a comment

Joe,

I have it on my someday/maybe list to bring up the thoughts on the seeing daily circumstances as opportunities to train and not merely inconveniences in our daily lives.

As I was reading your post, I was certainly stirred by the thought that what we have answers to speaks to what is important in our lives. As I was reading it, I thought about many of the subtle ways we transmit to our children what is important in our lives.

The sad truth is not only do we not have answers to the things of God, but so often we don’t even bring them up on our own to our children. We may ask them what they learned in Sunday school or we may have our daily devotional time, but where is Deuteronomy 6:7, “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”?

Too often I see myself missing opportunities to teach the things of God as we go throughout our day. I desire to see everything in light of God’s glory and teach this to our children. I want to speak of things in such a way that our children know that everything is a gift from God and created for the hallowing of His name.

Children are discerning. They can read people so easily. It is amazing the intuition that exists in children to know the spirit of a person. And they can sense this most easily in their parents. They will know what is important to us. They will see this in what we talk about and get excited about and what we praise them for.

If we spend most of our time getting excited about how well they do on the sports field and very little time getting excited about them manifesting the heart of Jesus, should we be surprised that they grow up to worship sports and not God? If we are continually praising outward beauty and very rarely point to the inward beauty that God sees and values, should we be surprised when our children grow up to value what their peers think rather than God? If we get more excited about buying a new “toy” for ourselves and show no joy in giving God’s money to be used for His kingdom, should we be surprised that our children grow up to hoard up treasures for themselves on earth?

Right from the beginning we are setting a standard for our children by what we get excited about, what we talk about and what we value in our lives and homes. We are training them every single moment of our lives. And that training is either leading them to love God or to love the things of this world. It is very serious business when you begin to see the way your life shows your child what is important.

I pray we would be a home that exalts God more than sports and beauty and intelligence and riches and human power. May we show our children that God is the most exciting person on the earth and the One for whom we find the greatest joy and the greatest treasure we could ever attain!

Seeking to show the importance of Jesus in everything,

Erin

Learning and Imparting the Answers February 27, 2007

Posted by Joe in : General Lessons , add a comment

Erin,

I wholeheartedly concur my wonderful wife! This blog definitely serves to stimulate my thinking. I am also quite encouraged by reading your posts. Often, we don’t have the opportunity to sit and pause in order to think these things through adequately. Or maybe I am just talking too much! That is a legitimate possibly for sure. Yet, I am inclined to think that the word spoken cannot necessarily reach the same depth as the word written. To write things out takes more time, but it is well worth the effort.

The first thing that hit me in response to your post was the way in which this blog is helping you see all the various ‘encounters’ with our children as learning experiences (for them and I assume, you as well) rather than hassles or interruptions. That’s a very important reality and I would like you to comment further on that matter at some point. You can either put that on your someday/maybe list or do it right away. It’s your call. Either way, you know I will have something to say on the matter! I will hold back for now though.

The second thought that came my way was in regards to the importance of having answers for our children. As you know full well, I appreciate your diligence and desire to learn the necessary theological realities that we want imparted to our children. Of course, this is a never-ending process, but there are definitely some central themes that need to be mastered. Too often, I believe, Christians today somehow end up believing that ‘having the answers’ is only for those in the pulpit or some other sort of leadership or teaching position. They should know the answers of course, but one thing is missing: We have to remember that the teachers are there to teach so that everyone understands it themselves!

I could go on at some length here, but that is simple right? A teacher in a classroom is present to impart knowledge to the students so that they can make it their own. So it is in the Church. It must be made our own. It is meant to be made our own. That is why teachers are there. That is why the Lord has gifted us with them. Yet for some reason, there is a sort of anti-intellectual mentality present today that somehow thinks that only ‘they’ (the teachers) should have the answers! No way!

As I said, I could keep going, but I want to point out one more thing. As it relates to having the answers for our children’s questions, let us ask ourselves:

What is the message we send to our children if we don’t have the answers to their questions–or at the very least, if we don’t search for the answers until we find them?

I am inclined to think that if we don’t either have the answer or search for the answer, we are telling our children that having the answer to their question really isn’t that important. Whether this is vocalized or not (and we probably won’t say that out loud!), this is the message we are sending when we don’t deem it important enough to have good, solid, Biblical answers to their big questions. Or again, when we don’t at the very least search out the answers. And this is true not only for our children’s questions, but for every other person who asks us the same.

And maybe this is the case in much of the Church today. Maybe a lot of Christians really don’t understand why understanding (and having the ability to explain) justification (or any other key Biblical doctrine) is all that important. This is sad. Very sad. Doctrinal and theological clarity has been minimized to a point that all our children get is some simple Bible stories with a moral lesson. But surely the Lord has given us rich words for us to understand them and impart them. Surely He has given us such rich theological truth so that He might be revealed and our hearts might be satisfied! Surely the Lord has His reasons for making us think!

And surely He has His reasons for leading our children to ask the great questions of the universe. The ask because they want to know–and because they need to know. May the Lord grant us the grace to always be prepared with an answer to any question our children raise regarding the hope that we have! And if we don’t know, may He grant us the grace to search out the answer with diligence until we can share it ourselves!

Searching for answers with you,

Joe

Being Knowledgable in What Counts February 26, 2007

Posted by Erin in : General Lessons , 1 comment so far

Joe,

This parenting blog has really stimulated by thinking throughout the day to look at situations in a whole new way! I have been blessed by finding circumstances as more of a learning experience, rather than just a situation to get through and so I can move on to the next thing.

While you were away on your trip, Abby and I were having lunch together one day. We had some hymns playing on the computer. Abby is a true two-year old in the sense that it seems like everything is a question! One thing she likes to question is the title of songs. Pretty much anytime a new song starts she will say “What’s this song called, Mommy?” Most of the time I can give her the title of the song. But on that particular day, a song came on that I did not know the title to. So I said “I am not sure what this song is called, Ab.” She looked at me and asked again what it was called. After I told her again that I wasn’t sure, she still asked me a few more times.

In Abby’s world, I am all knowing! She was very confused that I did not know the answer to one of her questions. This got me thinking about two things. The first was simply that we are to have a view of God that is as big as Abby’s view of her Mommy. How often we grumble and complain thinking that God does not know everything and is making some sort of mistake in the ordering of our lives!

The second thing that hit me related more to parenting. I realized that as she grows older the questions are going to get harder and harder. It is going to move from “What is this song called?” to “What does ‘justification’ mean?” or “How can God be three person and yet One God?” As I thought about this I realized the great need for me to be a theologian. I know you have told me this many times before, but it was at this point I really realized the great importance for me to have the answers. I do not want to have to say to her every time a theological question is brought up “Let’s wait and ask Daddy.” I want to have the answer for her.

This is not to say that I need to have the answer to every question. It will teach her humility and hunger for the truth if I tell her I do not know, but seek out to find the answer and get back to her with a response. This is also not to say that my main reason for being a theologian is so I can simply have the right answers to give her. But it is important that I have the answers when she asks to be able to teach and instruct her as we go about our days.

I am thankful that I have been encouraged in this and have been pointed to meditate on deep truths and to read wise discussions on them. But I know I still have a long way to go and pray I would continue to strive to learn good theology so that it would conform my life and I would be able to share those truths with our children as well.

Seeking to be a theologian with you,

Erin

What is Your Vision? February 25, 2007

Posted by Erin in : Scripture Meditation , add a comment

Joe,

I love when I get those glimpses of us being one, even in our thoughts of what to discuss next on a blog! I was actually going to bring up having a vision for our children (because I think you have great wisdom in the area of people having a vision for their lives) and you went ahead and brought it up on your own. If we are on the same wavelength like this after almost 5 years of marriage, imagine how scary we could be if the Lord would grant us 10 or 20 years!

I actually started thinking about a vision for our children as I was reading in Job this week. In chapter 21 Job is not in one of his better moments. He is in a place that I think all of have entered into at one point or another. He is questioning why it is even worth it to walk in righteousness. He looks around and sees the wicked seemingly prospering and enjoying life. In verse 11, he even goes on to comment on their children “They send out their little boys like a flock and their children dance.”

I know that this sort of observation has been a struggle for me before. I look at other families who are not seeking to love the Lord and wonder how it is that their children are so well-behaved (or don’t throw temper tantrums or whatever else you want to put in there). Then part of me starts to wish my children were that way or envy their family. When I step back and look at why I am feeling this way, I realize I have lost sight of the vision I have for my children.

Our vision is not raise the most well-behaved or obedient children. We want to raise children who ultimately love Jesus with all their heart and soul and mind and strength. Now this transformation of heart will flow out into external obedience, but the external obedience is not the goal. Is it worth it to us to strive with our children for years and years exposing their sin and pointing to the cross of Christ and finally have them saved? Or are we just wanting the immediate work of outward behavior while raising children who are headed to hell. Too often we are satisfied with the outward change of behaviors instead of an inward heart change.

So we must get specific about what we desire and envision for our children, but also keep the broad goal in mind that we desire to raise children who cherish God above all else. When we have this vision for their lives, it will change the way we speak, instruct, and discipline, amoung many other things.

Desiring to raise children who love Jesus,

Erin

A Legacy of Imitation February 24, 2007

Posted by Joe in : General Lessons , add a comment

Erin,

I am really enjoying this on-line conversation with you. It truly is a joy! It stimulates my thoughts and also serves, I believe, to help keep me focused on the task of parenting. If it serves as nothing more than a reminder of the truths we hold dear, I suppose it is well worth the effort. But I don’t think it will stop there.

Anyhow, there were naturally some thoughts stirring within me while I read your post regarding our being imitated by our children. In particular, the questions you posed at the end to any of our readers served to stimulate my thought. We have talked about the reality that we are teaching our children by our actions and attitudes (including every facial expression as well–amazing!) whether we realize it or not. They are always in training and they will imitate us for good and for ill.

This led me to think about the way in which the Lord uses our children to motivate us to greater holiness. I think this is worth some meditation for every parent. Specifically, we need to think about the reality that we need to become whatever we want our children to become. That is to say, wherever we want them to go, we need to go there first. That is tough stuff to be sure, but it makes sense. We just cannot give what we do not possess ourselves.

Two things need to be mentioned in relationship to that (at least). First, this means that we must be people of vision. And not just any vision, I believe, but a God-centered, Christ-entranced vision. That is to say, that in order to help our children become who we want them to be, we need to know what that will look like if it actually happens!

That sounds simple enough, but I’m not sure that enough parents are thinking this way. In the first place, I’m not sure that enough parents have a clear enough vision for their own lives. They don’t know who they want to become. Maybe they aren’t looking to imitate anyone. This might be a sign of such a downfall (a lack of vision that is). And flowing from that lack of vision for themselves is a lack of vision for their children. They aren’t really sure what they are trying to point them to. They need to ask themselves, what exactly is the goal?

And this is very important, of course, because if there is no goal, no big, over-arching vision, all the mundane tasks of parenting will become incredible drudgery. We have spoken about this time and again–especially for you as a mother. You can never lose sight of the fact that you are laying your life down to raise up human beings who love the Lord our God and are jealous to make Him known. We are laying our lives down for our children in order to help them take part in the greatest cause in all the universe, the redemption of all things through Jesus Christ the Son. On and on we can go, but suffice it to say that the long-range plan of our children joining us in the great cause of hastening the coming of Jesus must be kept in view for us to raise our children well.

And I would encourage us to be somewhat specific in this matter, particularly as our children grow older. Of course, we aren’t going to waste all sorts of man hours day dreaming about Elijah’s life at age 25. What will his job be? Who will he marry? Those questions are all well and good in due time (if the Lord wills), but they are more or less wasted energy now. That being said, we can still form a vision for his life knowing what we know of ourselves and his personality even now. And in particular, we can think about who we want him to be a few years from now (if the Lord wills) and what we can do about it today. That serves both us and him well. And I believe it honors the Lord.

The second thing I will mention is glorious, but I must be brief. In short, we need to have in view a long-range plan of leaving a legacy of imitation. We need to think long-term, as in, until the time Jesus returns. We need to ask ourselves, how do we have to live and what changes do we need to make in order to leave a legacy that lasts until Jesus comes to consummate all things? Naturally, this takes some serious envisioning, but what more significant question can we ask? It’s challenging, but the questions worth asking usually are. What kind of changes in my life do I need to make today in order to serve not only my children, but my posterity 200 years from now (if the Lord tarries)? That’s tough stuff, but if we are willing to ask such questions and deal with the answers, I believe the Lord will grant us His blessing.

Alright love, that is enough for now. I’m praying for the grace to leave a legacy with you. We know we can’t do it. That is for sure, but our God is that big. That being said, let us think and pray hard for a clear vision of who we want to be and what we want to leave behind. Then, with that big vision in view, let us labor in the trenches every moment of every day for the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ (and our eternal joy!).

Laboring hard to leave a legacy with you,

Joe

More Thoughts on Being Imitated February 23, 2007

Posted by Erin in : General Lessons , add a comment

Joe,

I was thinking more about being imitated as a parent. And although I know I want our children to grow up to WANT to imitate us, right now we are in a stage where they imitate us naturally. Abby is almost three years old and in what developmental experts call the “parrot stage”. It means just what it sounds like. Just like a parrot, much of what she says and sees, she does. And Elijah is almost 10 months old, and reading up on his development for this month, it was noted that imitation begins at this stage. So right now, our children are not necessarily thinking about whether we are worthy to be imitated, but are naturally imitating much of what we do.

This got me thinking about seeing ourselves in our children. When we first got married, I remember reading about marriage being equated to holding a mirror up to yourself and seeing what you really looked like. We have certainly experienced that a lot! But with children, sometimes it is worse than a mirror! I am often seeing a little version of me walking around in Abby. Sometimes this is good and sometimes it is bad.

I enjoy it when I see her light up when you get home from practice and she says, “How was practice?” I know she has heard me ask you that many times and is imitating what seems to be the loving thing to do when you get home. That brings great joy to my heart. But then I see things that I would prefer not imitated. The other day she came into the kitchen and told me that Soldier (one of her stuffed animals) had been disobedient and needed a spanking. I know this is something she has learned from me. I wasn’t so concerned that she felt Soldier needed a spanking, because often that is what disobedience requires. But what concerned me was when I asked her if she had prayed with Soldier after the spanking and given him a hug and a kiss and told him she loved him. She told me she hadn’t and had to run out of the room to go do that. I was saddened that for her discipline was mostly focused on the spanking and not the restoration to God and her parent.

All this is to say that if we want to see weaknesses in our own life, we can simply watch our child in action. You can also look to see what bothers you in your child’s behavior. Are you constantly correcting your child for whining? Look to see if you are a negative person? Does your child throw tantrums when he/she doesn’t get what he/she wants? Look to see if you throw your own version of a tantrum when God does not ordain things the way you would like. I am not saying children always imitate what their parents do in every situation. Children are born sinful and much of what they do is simply innate. But it is a good practice to observe what they are imitating to see what you may be struggling with in your own life.

Looking to be a good example to imitate,

Erin

Being Worthy of Imitation February 22, 2007

Posted by Erin in : General Lessons , add a comment

Joe,

Your last post definitely got me thinking about living before our children in a way that makes us trustworthy. If we live in such a way, I believe they will also think we are worth imitating. Paul calls us to imitate him as He imitated Christ. I think we as parents should be able to tell our children to imitate us as we imitate Christ as well.

How do we become people that are to be imitated? Ultimately, the question becomes how do we become like Jesus? This brought me back to a book you and I recently finished reading by Dallas Willard called “The Spirit of the Disciplines”. In it, Willard argues that we do no act like Jesus by trying to make the decision Jesus would make “in the moment”, but by practicing the disciplines he made a part of His life.

Willard used the example of a child trying to emulate a professional athlete. The child may go out and buy all the same gear or try to imitate a certain technique in the athlete’s style of play. But if the child does not engage in the same day-to-day discipline of the athlete, true greatness cannot be achieved.

So we cannot just look to act the right way in front of our children in the moment–in order to be worth imitating. Our conduct must be an overflow of the disciplines we have in our life that cause us to act like Jesus in every moment of our lives. I know one of the most important ways these disciplines come in for me as a mother is having time with Jesus first thing in the morning. I need to be up before the children in a time of quietness and solitude to read the Word and pray. I have described before that this is like getting on my battle gear for the day. If my heart is not happy in God to begin the day, I feel like I am entering the war with no protective armor. God has been gracious to grant me grace to rise early (usually at 5am) to have that quiet time before the kids are up around 7am. Even on days when I am not feeling well or am especially tired, when I have made an effort to give even 20 minutes to God, the effort has been blessed. On those few days when I have let myself sleep and have gotten up with the kids, I have seen that I have not acted in a way that is worth imitating. As we have said so many times before, we cannot give what we do not possess.

I am thankful that our home is built upon the conviction that the private disciplines of prayer and reading the Word must be the first order of business in the day. God has granted you wisdom to encourage me to this end! And I pray these disciplines would make us two parents that our children would trust and want to imitate.

Seeking Him early and privately with you,

Erin

Childlike Trust? February 21, 2007

Posted by Joe in : Scripture Meditation , add a comment

First a short note about the set-up for this blog. Erin and I have decided to make this blog something of an on-line conversation. This is what I do with Larry on the Seeking Him Blog (more or less) and I like the format. It gives us the opportunity to linger on a topic for a season if we wish. I think that will be helpful here. Of course, unlike Larry and I, Erin and I live in the same house and share our every detail of life together. We are joyfully one flesh. Yet I still think an on-line conversation can work. Maybe it can even work better actually, considering the fact that we can help one another with our various posts! With that be said….

Erin,

So I was thinking about your post from yesterday as I read through Exodus 4 this morning. As I mentioned to you before you made the post, I enjoyed your thoughts in relationship to parenting. But I definitely was surprised when I started to think about parenting this moring while reading Exodus 4! What is happening to me here? Oh, that’s right, we started a blog! It’s working already isn’t it? Lessons are being learned. Anyhow….

I was thinking about Moses and all his various doubts. I could easily get down on him until I remind myself of my own weakness and especially, the little exposure that Moses had to the glory of God. He had no face of Christ to look at. He had no New Covenant revelation which we so freely enjoy (and often take for granted). In that vein, it struck me that one of the reasons why Moses clearly had his doubts was because he hadn’t had ample opportunity to see the Lord in action. Of course, I think the primary reason he doubted was because he was too focused on himself and too little on the Lord, but that reason doesn’t negate what I just said. In fact, it might support it. For maybe the reason why he was so focused on himself is because he knew so little about the Lord. We have to remember that at this point in human history, the Lord had not yet revealed too much of His Person and glory. After all, He was soon to use Moses to do so!

That being said, I drifted to thoughts of parenthood and the way in which children, as they grow older, seem to lose their childlike trust. For Elijah, well, he can’t help but trust us (except when it is dinner time and you leave the room), but as Abby grows older, it’s as if the fall sets in and she begins to doubt all authority, just as our forebearers, Adam and Eve, did the Lord in the Garden. As it relates to us, she doubts that we are striving for her good and in fact, that we know better than she what her good really is. We tell her everyday that she needs to take a nap, but every day is still a fight. She really doesn’t trust that we know and want to do what is best for her. What is the deal?

Well, sin is the deal. That comes first of course. Our kids emerge (just as we did) from the womb foolish as can be! The parents who don’t see this must, in all honesty, be fools themselves, because it seems quite obvious. Kids aren’t simply ignorant, they are foolish and they will remain foolish and in fact, grow more foolish if we don’t help them see their need for the grace to change their foolishness.

That is all very true, yes, but there is still more I believe. As it relates to my thinking this morning, the more has to do with our children’s need to see more of us in consistent, trustworthy action. For just as Moses failed to trust that the Lord knew what was best for him because he had yet to see His trustworthiness, so too might it be that Abigail needs to see us prove ourselves wise and trustworthy? I think so. Though she has seen a good deal already (imperfectly of course!), we have to remember that she has a hard time consistently recalling what happened two days ago. And she doesn’t have the luxury of sitting herself down in quiet to reflect on our trustworthiness and love. Instead, she is always on the go.

That being said, I think it is a good lesson for us: we need to make it our aim to prove ourselves trustworthy day in and day out for the rest of our lives. And this is true not only to our children, but before our children. That is to say that they will take notice of all our interactions with each other and others and they will know whether or not we are really reliable and faithful people. They will know whether or not we are for real. And the older they grow, the more memories they will have of our being loving and wise and faithful. Then, say, when they are teenagers, they will actually come to us for advice! Yes, it really can happen folks!

One more thing: It struck me while writing this out how this really does parallel the way we relate to the Lord. Don’t we struggle with the same trust issues? The difficulties of today come and somehow we think that the Lord won’t come through. Though He has promised us mercies that are new every morning, we aren’t so sure. What is our deal? Well, sin of course. But the lesson I believe for us is that we must fight against this sinful tendency of unbelief by filling our hearts up with Bible truth—every single day. We need to be reminded each morning of the faithfulness and trustworthiness of God. For only then will we become the faithful and trustworthy and wise ourselves. Only as we behold His glory will we grow into His likeness and lead our children well.

Alright, that’s more than enough for now–as usual love. I suppose it is nice for you that I can get my ramblings out on this blog instead of in our living room to you each day! You are a good listener of course, but as a mother of two, I think this blog has more time to do so!

Seeking to be a trustworthy parent with you,

Joe

The Need to be Longsuffering February 20, 2007

Posted by Erin in : Scripture Meditation , add a comment

This morning my reading plan had me in Exodus 3 for one of my chapters. As I sat and read of Moses off in the desert and encountering the burning bush, I was meditating on how patient God is with us in our humanity. I was thinking of some of the other words to describe God’s patience and I thought of the word “longsuffering.” It is often used in Scripture to describe God’s attitude toward us. It is not a word I had thought about much before, so I went and looked it up online in a Bible dictionary (the internet is such a great resource!). The definition I found said “self-restraint in the face of provocation”.

Upon reading this one of my first thoughts was how much I need longsuffering as a parent. We have an almost three-year-old who is consistently looking to provoke us. She is always looking to stretch the limits. For example, last night as we were getting ready for bed, and after she had been disciplined for saying “no” to me, I was leaving the room, and she whispered a quiet “no”–just to see either if I could hear it or if that would be an acceptable form of “no”. She knows very well she is not to say “no” to Mommy when I have told her something, but as a sinful child she is often pushing the limits to see what will provoke us as parents.

For my discipline to be loving and effective, I need to be longsuffering. God bears with us as we often provoke Him right to His face. We are going to be dealing with years of provocation as parents, and my prayer is now for longsuffering in the midst of it. I want to be self-restrained, so that I do not discipline Abby in anger or pride when she disrespects me, but in humility and self-restraint in order to faithfully bring her back under the blessing of God.

Lesson #1 February 19, 2007

Posted by Joe in : General Lessons , 1 comment so far

So what shall I say for the first post? Though we don’t expect millions to ever be reading this blog, you have to know that the first post probably won’t receive the highest page views! Yet, it is the first post. So what shall I say?

First, I would encourage anyone who checks this post to read the ‘About’ page. It will explain in more detail our focus here. Essentially, we want to serve both ourselves and anyone listening by writing down our various lessons in parenthood from a Christ-centered perspective. We know that we learn most by writing it down. We have learned a great deal already as parents, but we know that there is still much more to come!

Second, lesson #1.

The first lesson in parenthood, God-centered parenthood that is, is the great need for us as parents to love the Lord God in such a way that our love for our children looks like hate. It might sound over-simplistic, but this really does cut to the root of parenting. For Jesus said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26). We know He was using hyperbole (which He frequently does) in order to shock His listeners into hearing, but the truth of the statement should be plain. Nothing less than wholehearted devotion to Jesus will do.

And as regards parenting, we cannot give what we do not possess ourselves. We serve our children well only to the degree that we are entranced with who God has promised to be for us in Jesus. Erin and I will continually come back to this one reality. For often, O so often, the only real problem–the root problem–in shepherding our children is a problem within. If we are really walking intimately with the Lord our God, good parenting will come. If we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, God promises to grant us all these things (Matthew 6:33).

Can we ever move beyond lesson #1? I’m not sure that we can. Sure, we can put some contours on it, give some pratical steps. But this is the lesson that is central, foundation, mandatory, if we are ever able to lead and love our children well.

Of course, it is worth mentioning that such a statement assumes the fact that leading and loving our children involves pointing them to the knowledge and enjoyment of the Lord our God. Such is the reason we exist. And such is the reason they exist. And if we don’t have that one thing, our kids will surely know it!

That being said, let us labor first and foremost to grow in the knowledge of God. Let us serve our children well by seeking the Lord God hard. Indeed, let us love them by making sure that they are never our top priority. For we love them best when we love the Lord most. The more we are entranced with the glory of His Person, the more capable we will be to overflow into their little lives.

More could be said, but I’ll stop here, because more will be said. For this is a lesson that we can’t help but come back to time and again.