Children // Curiosity // Culture
The most beautiful attribute of children is not their innocence but their curiosity. Their innocence does not exist. They are flawed individuals. They are sinners. They are naive and helpless, but not innocent. From an early age, I see their selfishness, defiance, and proclivity to sin. I also see their curiosity. I see a light in their eyes that wants to know more and explore the world. I see this curiosity in my three month old and my two year old. I pray that light can be seen in me too. Their curiosity points me towards my creator and allows me to point them towards theirs. I love questions. Questions are an opportunity to mutually learn and grow.
One of the biggest disadvantages churched kids have is knowing the meaning of salvation without understanding the significance. The miracles of the Bible are mundane to the children who hear it every week.
How do we learn more about God? "Read the Bible and pray"
Propitiation. Salvation. Grace. Mercy. Crucifixion.
These words can become ingrained in their vocabulary without becoming truths in their mind or soul.
One of the greatest gifts we can give to our children is not just an understanding of "church terms" but an application of them.
I want my children not to be raised in a church culture (be it Baptist, Methodist, or non-denominational), but rather a Christian culture. I want them to be raised in a culture of love and grace. I want them to be raised in a culture of black and white morality. I want them to be raised understanding the gravity of sin, the need for justice, and the miracle of grace.
The greatest inheritance I ever received was one that didn't come from my parents, but from God. Being grafted into a family bigger than my own massive family is the best thing to ever happen to me. My salvation is something that comes from God, but was facilitated by my parents. This is the culture and tradition I pray my children will inherit. As important as where we come from is, where we are going is more vital.
My children are half Guatemalan, a quarter Filipino, and a quarter white. I want them to grow up knowing about their past and the culture they have inherited. I also want them to grow up with their Spiritual inheritance. If they never eat a grain of rice in their life or speak a lick of Spanish, but know Jesus as their savior then my job as a parent is done. The greatest inheritance they will ever receive is one that I can't give them. So I will do what I can to facilitate.
I will pray fervently.
From before they were conceived, I have been praying for my children. As much as I want them to be happy and meet the love of their life, I desire more for them to know their creator and to have Him be their number one. I pray with them and for them. I pray for their salvation. I pray for their future. I pray for our parenting. We pray over meals and at bedtime. We pray when he asks even if it's over every bite of food at dinner because if he want to pray without ceasing, we will.
I will read constantly.
The smell of old pages as I flipped through the pages of a book and the sight of bookshelves full of every color, genre, and reading level are nostalgic for me. I grew up on books. My mom is an English teacher at heart (and an actual teacher) so books were a huge part of my childhood. Whether library books, books from and for her classroom, new books, or well-read books, we had books of all conditions in our home. The content is just as important as the quantity of books they read. I want them to learn about God's creation and the stories from the Bible. I want them to know Spiritual Truths because of the books they read. I read them Bible stories and will introduce them to devotionals because they are never too young to learn and the most important thing they can learn about is God.
I will be a part of a church.
Being married to a PK (pastor's kid), I see the dynamic of church differently. Being a part of a living and active church, I see service differently. Being raised in the church, I see attendance differently. Our kids will grow up attending church on Sundays and a weekly Bible Study. They will grow up thinking it's normal to come early and leave late. They already see service from the vast majority of people attending. I want them to grow up knowing church is a people not a building. I want them to know that being a part of a church is more than attending a worship service on Sunday.
I will prioritize my Spiritual life.
"Please ma'am put on your own mask before helping those around you," the flight attendant tells me staring at the child in my lap every time I fly. Much like any sort of life-saving measure we much secure our life vest and maintain our buoyancy before we have the ability to help others. I can't expect my children to develop a healthy relationship with their creator if I don't have one. Even if I didn't have a children, my relationship with God would be of the upmost importance. With children, the stakes are higher. They are always watching and this is a matter of eternity.
I will surrender.
In the end, as with all things. The most important thing for me to do is give up trying to control it. I am not in charge of their future. I cannot even control my own future. My children are not my own. They are the Lord's. They are a gift for which I am charged with the care of. Like parents who adopt their children are accountable to the state, we will be held accountable to the One who gave us our children. I pray that when that day come I will be able to worship my creator alongside my children.
One of the biggest disadvantages churched kids have is knowing the meaning of salvation without understanding the significance. The miracles of the Bible are mundane to the children who hear it every week.
How do we learn more about God? "Read the Bible and pray"
Propitiation. Salvation. Grace. Mercy. Crucifixion.
These words can become ingrained in their vocabulary without becoming truths in their mind or soul.
One of the greatest gifts we can give to our children is not just an understanding of "church terms" but an application of them.
I want my children not to be raised in a church culture (be it Baptist, Methodist, or non-denominational), but rather a Christian culture. I want them to be raised in a culture of love and grace. I want them to be raised in a culture of black and white morality. I want them to be raised understanding the gravity of sin, the need for justice, and the miracle of grace.
The greatest inheritance I ever received was one that didn't come from my parents, but from God. Being grafted into a family bigger than my own massive family is the best thing to ever happen to me. My salvation is something that comes from God, but was facilitated by my parents. This is the culture and tradition I pray my children will inherit. As important as where we come from is, where we are going is more vital.
My children are half Guatemalan, a quarter Filipino, and a quarter white. I want them to grow up knowing about their past and the culture they have inherited. I also want them to grow up with their Spiritual inheritance. If they never eat a grain of rice in their life or speak a lick of Spanish, but know Jesus as their savior then my job as a parent is done. The greatest inheritance they will ever receive is one that I can't give them. So I will do what I can to facilitate.
I will pray fervently.
From before they were conceived, I have been praying for my children. As much as I want them to be happy and meet the love of their life, I desire more for them to know their creator and to have Him be their number one. I pray with them and for them. I pray for their salvation. I pray for their future. I pray for our parenting. We pray over meals and at bedtime. We pray when he asks even if it's over every bite of food at dinner because if he want to pray without ceasing, we will.
I will read constantly.
The smell of old pages as I flipped through the pages of a book and the sight of bookshelves full of every color, genre, and reading level are nostalgic for me. I grew up on books. My mom is an English teacher at heart (and an actual teacher) so books were a huge part of my childhood. Whether library books, books from and for her classroom, new books, or well-read books, we had books of all conditions in our home. The content is just as important as the quantity of books they read. I want them to learn about God's creation and the stories from the Bible. I want them to know Spiritual Truths because of the books they read. I read them Bible stories and will introduce them to devotionals because they are never too young to learn and the most important thing they can learn about is God.
I will be a part of a church.
Being married to a PK (pastor's kid), I see the dynamic of church differently. Being a part of a living and active church, I see service differently. Being raised in the church, I see attendance differently. Our kids will grow up attending church on Sundays and a weekly Bible Study. They will grow up thinking it's normal to come early and leave late. They already see service from the vast majority of people attending. I want them to grow up knowing church is a people not a building. I want them to know that being a part of a church is more than attending a worship service on Sunday.
I will prioritize my Spiritual life.
"Please ma'am put on your own mask before helping those around you," the flight attendant tells me staring at the child in my lap every time I fly. Much like any sort of life-saving measure we much secure our life vest and maintain our buoyancy before we have the ability to help others. I can't expect my children to develop a healthy relationship with their creator if I don't have one. Even if I didn't have a children, my relationship with God would be of the upmost importance. With children, the stakes are higher. They are always watching and this is a matter of eternity.
I will surrender.
In the end, as with all things. The most important thing for me to do is give up trying to control it. I am not in charge of their future. I cannot even control my own future. My children are not my own. They are the Lord's. They are a gift for which I am charged with the care of. Like parents who adopt their children are accountable to the state, we will be held accountable to the One who gave us our children. I pray that when that day come I will be able to worship my creator alongside my children.
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