Mom Heart Moments #59

He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.

CLAY AND I TALKED FOR HOURS and hours about our ideals for our children, even long before the first arrived. Our ultimate goal was to teach and model to our children what it looked like to walk with God. Not just to teach them morality, or to indoctrinate them spiritually, but to cultivate in them a heart for God and His Word, and to slowly give them independence so that they would be able to make good choices reflecting their own convictions.

We spoke often about “being faithful with much,” and little by little, gave them opportunities to make their own decisions and practice being responsible with us, so that as we walked alongside them we could help them, pick them up, and teach them to learn from their mistakes. We often told them, “God has a work for you to do in your lifetime and in this world. Your personal integrity will be the platform from which you will give your messages. If you are faithful at home, we will help you to expand your borders.”

Jesus sent his disciples into the world to bring His light and redemption and love. How can we as parents have a different goal? Having prayed for our own children and told them all their lives that they were to be Kingdom bearers in the world, we then had to support them, pray for them, and be accountable to them as God began to give them dreams and to open doors for them.

Most of all, we depended on the Lord, prayed a lot, and asked His Holy Spirit to work. He is always our confidence.

Do you try to shield your children from the possibility of making mistakes? Can you see how this might be more harmful than good? Think of some ways you can extend opportunities for responsibility to your children today.