Spiritual Priorities

So, lately I've been involved in a LOT of discussions about the priorities parents place on spiritual matters. The topic seems to come up quite frequently. The matter is heavy on my heart because young people is "what I do". I see with my own eyes the priorities that parents place on church. I'm talking about "church" parents, too, not the unchurched. How can we expect the lost to do any better when the "Christian" parents can't even get it right? That's a whole other blog.

I find it sad that parents can get their children to soccer practice, dance, tennis, or whatever the extra-curricular may be, but yet they can't get their children to any "extra" church activities. For that matter, five days a week they can get their children to school pretty much on time but can't seem to get up early enough to make to Sunday school on time. If Sunday school starts at 9:30, most parents will try to show up for coffee at 9:45, maybe. I've seen some walk in at 10:00.

Why is that we think we need to have the most well-rounded children? Or does it matter more that our children know, really know, God and what He is all about? While I understand the importance of teaching your child a sport some with the hopes of scholarships for college one day, very few actually make it that far. Shouldn't we be investing in things that will last for an eternity?

I've been one of those parents whose children had something every night of the week. We would rarely get home before 7:00 or 7:30. leaving very little time to eat a decent dinner, much less have any quality time together. We were all so worn out and cranky that all we wanted to do was go to bed. And as much as I am ashamed to admit it, church was just one more thing on our to-do list and usually involved complaining.

Church should be THE THING on our to-do list as parents. Everything else that is scheduled should, must, revolve around church and the things that will disciple our children so they have roots and are grounded in faith, so that when they leave our nests, they will be able to function in this world and make wise, Godly decisions.

I try so hard as a parent to make the best choices for my children, I am by no means the model parent, but I do try to make sure that they are getting what they need, and also that I am optimizing every teachable moment that is provided to me. I pray that when I have to make choices for them that matter for the rest of their lives, that I will always choose God and not the world.

Label me as a fanatic or whatever you want. Choosing to live for God means to LIVE for God in ALL aspects, not just on Sunday mornings, maybe Sunday evenings and an occasional Wednesday night. I want my children to understand that God is the highest priority in their lives. In order to do that, I must model that EVEN WHEN I DON'T FEEL LIKE AND I AM DOG TIRED FROM JUST BEING A PARENT!!!!! I must make them go to church when they complain about being too tired or whatever the excuse may be!!!! I must be the one to teach them scriptures!!!! I must be the one . . . . . .Why? Because I am the parent!!!!!!!!