I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10 NKJV)
I am continuing to read and read and read on parenting and educating our children. This week I realized this parenting thing as a “calling” in a way I don’t know that I understood before. Specifically, per Psalm 78, my calling is to teach my children God’s ways so that they teach their children and grandchildren these truths.
1 O my people, listen to my instructions.
Open your ears to what I am saying,
2 for I will speak to you in a parable.
I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
3 stories we have heard and known,
stories our ancestors handed down to us.
4 We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.
5 For he issued his laws to Jacob;
he gave his instructions to Israel.
He commanded our ancestors
to teach them to their children,
6 so the next generation might know them—
even the children not yet born—
and they in turn will teach their own children.
7 So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
not forgetting his glorious miracles
and obeying his commands.
8 Then they will not be like their ancestors—
stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful,
refusing to give their hearts to God. (Psalm 78 NLT)
At some point, each member in each generation has to make a decision for or away from the Lord. So, that brings me to the “how” part of parenting/educating our children – how do we parent in such a way that they will not only learn the truths and ways of the Lord, but understand themselves as called to pass on that faith to their descendants? How do we do that in this day and age?
For me, this week’s conundrum has been a “curriculum” issue, specific to our five year old. Plan A? Plan B? Something else? Some combination of the above? Then I came (again) to the first part of Psalm 62:
God, the one and only—
I’ll wait as long as he says.
Everything I need comes from him,
so why not?
He’s solid rock under my feet,
breathing room for my soul,
An impregnable castle:
I’m set for life.
I AM set for life – my spiritual feet are placed on the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ – the Way, the Truth, the Life. So, when I feel my inner world getting all choked in “Plan A” or “Plan B” (or any other struggle) I have to join with the Psalmist, again, in the next part of Psalm 62:
3-4 How long will you gang up on me?
How long will you run with the bullies?
There’s nothing to you, any of you—
rotten floorboards, worm-eaten rafters,
Anthills plotting to bring down mountains,
far gone in make-believe.
You talk a good line,
but every “blessing” breathes a curse.
God is never a god of confusion or chaos; our Creation is beauty and order. So when the things of this life seem to gang up on us, we need to realize that those “blessings” are really not the Solid Rock we can build our lives upon. Chaos and confusion are not of the Lord. God is an impenatrable castle. God gives us breathing room for our souls. And we are, indeed, set for life.
God, when the chaos and confusion of this world seems to choke us, help us to hold onto your Word and promises. Help us to raise our children not only to be Jesus Followers, but to then pass the faith on to future generations. Help us to trust you for their salvation and those of generations yet unborn. God, the one and only—we‘ll wait as long as you say. Everything we hope for comes from you, so why not? You’re the solid rock under our feet, breathing room for our souls, an impregnable castle: we’re set for life. Amen and amen!