Imagine, if you will, each of your children ten years from now. What are your dreams for their future? Are they dependent upon the Lord? Do they sit daily at his feet? Are they a light in a dark world?
I can dream all day about everything I hope my girls grow up to be, but the real question is: What am I doing today? Have I made sure they’ve sat at His feet today? Have we depended on the Lord together today? Have I found ways to encourage them to be a light on this day?
One of the most encouraging things I’ve learned as a mom is that even when I mess up, my children are in God’s hands. He isn’t going to forget them or let them slip out of His grip because I didn’t work hard enough. Whew.
At the same time, it is my God-given responsibility to raise my children, to train them even, in His ways. Sometimes, that can be a little scary.
It is so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day routine of living that we put off training our children in the Lord. Cleaning, cooking, chauffeuring, working, and even tending our own relationship with God…all these things take time. Yet growing our children in the Lord doesn’t need to be one more task we add to the day.
When we are intentional about something–when we take a few moments to remind ourselves of what we hope to accomplish–it can seep into our lives as simply as winter creeping up on fall. Before you know it, you’ll be pouring God’s wisdom into your children’s lives as naturally as you grab coats out of the closet on the way out of your house on a blustery day.
Of course, it will take some time. Reading the Bible to your kids a few minutes a day. Developing a daily prayer time or starting a family devotional time. As with all things that are worth doing, start slowly. For starters, ask yourself today what your dream is for your kids. For my girls to have a personal relationship with Jesus would be at the top of my list. What else matters if they don’t?
More specifically, what is one thing you can do today to train your child in the Lord?
Let’s take the time to dream big for our kids. The simple practice of thinking about the future will impact the choices you make today.
When I think and pray about my daughters having a personal relationship with Jesus that grows as they do, I am more likely to incorporate nuggets of the Word in our conversations, pray with them, and encourage them to pray on their own than I am when I am just trying to get through the day. So, allow yourself to dream. Then ask God to reveal one small step you can take today to help make that dream a reality.
May your biggest dreams for your children be for them to walk with God and enjoy and abundant life in Him!
Melissa says
Thank you for this post.
mamala says
The mere idea of having the forethought to clear the clutter and get down to the real core of it all: What will my children’s relationship with Jesus be like once my daily input is over?–Is ridiculously simple, and yet largely overlooked, as we plunge into the events and time-sucking issues of the day.
As you so aptly put it: What else matters, but their relationship with our Jesus?
Marsha says
It is so important to be that keeper of the vision for your children, to dream big as you called it. We did that with our 3 children, challenged them, set the example, went on mission trips together, even started a ministry together. The rewards have been sweet. Now we’re seeing it play out into the lives of our 6 grandchildren.
Excellent post.