First off...did I really spell the title of the original post with a "pole," instead of "poll?" Really? I'm sorry. That's just so pathetic.
But 33 of you were kind enough to overlook the offense and vote on your top priority. Obviously, there's no right or wrong answer. How could there be? Each answer has its merit, depending on the filter of perspective you sift it through.
I liked how Sara acknowledged all the Godly ways to choose even the most unlikely of answers.
Let's first acknowledge that in the mostly Christian community that reads Restoring the Years, our children are in little or no danger of being too smart, too productive, too popular or too happy. lol. Nobody chose reputation, intelligence, drive, or success.
And then again...some are just in denial.
I have to say that I was surprised that no one joined me in wanting, above all, to teach our children the importance of being kind and compassionate towards others. Maybe you were just a nicer kid than me. I don't know why it matters most to me--maybe because I see Jesus as compassionate above all else. Yes, of course He's holy, full of faith, and obedient--but when I think of His coming here to die for me, I don't think of those as being the reasons. I'm impressed that He saw me in my lost and helpless state and simply had pity on me. I'm moved by His boundless compassion.
I think if I hadn't chosen compassion, I probably would have gone with contentment. Contentment is a very nice place to live, and everyone can afford a house in that neighborhood! I definitely want my girls to see a reason to be grateful in everything--no matter the circumstance.
Integrity and truthfulness? Very high on my list too. Foundational, actually, to building a strong relationship amongst people. After all, if I can't trust a person, we won't be as close as we could be.
Discernment and discretion are also very important to me. But I've learned the long way around that it is difficult to teach a young child discernment without running the risk of raising a critical child. And that doesn't align well with my top priority--kindness. So, I am more prayerful and less uptight about issues of discernment. Or at least I try to remember to be.
Finally, we come to most everyone's favorite: Faith and obedience. 78% chose this one. And while it seems a good and Godly choice, I can't begin to see how anyone can teach or instill this quality in a child. Well, actually, I take that back. Children can certainly be taught to obey and have faith in...well, anything. In fact, they're very suggestible. But I cannot pass down my faith in the One True God. I cannot teach her to believe. Only the Lord can give that gift. It's supernatural.
And obedience? I'm going to say something challenging here: obedience is the very best way to miss a tare in your midst. Don't get me wrong! Yes, of course we teach our children to obey. But I also pray that the Lord will let me catch them red-handed in their sin.
It's been my understanding that the obedience that God calls us to is not like that of the Pharisee's; it is the obedience of a heart bought by Christ and lovingly yielded to His will.
Thanks for voting, and for stretching me in my thinking!
10 comments:
Interesting results and discussion. I chose faith--not because I believe I can teach them to believe because God will draw them, but because I need to be modeling every day how to choose faith in Someone who matters. I think that if I am not *teaching* it, then they are more apt to choose faith in something of the world. I did, in my mind, take issue that you paired faith and obedience. I know that we obey because we love the One we have faith in--but I think that kind of obedience is only a by-product after the faith has been chosen.
My hope would be that if they have faith in Jesus, those other attributes will be developing in them. Again, though, that is up to my modeling isn't it. Why does this parenting thing have to be so hard? lol
obedience is the very best way to miss a tare in your midst
oh yes. It would be a scary thing to find myself raising a Pharisee.
I enjoyed your observations. I had a hard time voting so I didn't. I too thought that I could never teach my children faith, although I hope that it is the greatest thing they "catch" (yet, really that they are drawn to the Lord) from whatever is learned in our home. It was a hard poll and I didn't get back in time to vote by the time it was done.
Wow. I loved they way you put all that together.
"obedience is the very best way to miss a tare in your midst"
Sad but just too true!
Very interesting thoughts, GB. Especially the "tares" part.
I didn't think on it long before I voted, and now I see I voted wrong. :) I'll try to do better next time, I promise.
OK, I didn't know it was a trick question!! I chose faith and obedience b/c above all I want my children to be saved and obey the Lord. There is no way to separate out all the things there were to choose from on the poll (pole). I wanted a lot of them, but just decided on faith b/c I want them to be with God eternally. Next time, give us an easier question. :)
I didn't vote for faith/obedience because I don't think that they are the same. The most important thing I would try to instill in my children is faith in the Lord, but not necessarily obedience. The one I picked on the poll had to do with honesty. People who are not afraid to have integrity: those are the people I want to live with. :)
I must have misunderstood the question. I, too, chose faith and obedience not because I thought they could be taught, but because they are the qualities I most want them to obtain as they grow into adulthood. You have raised some wonderful points, here and I always appreciate your insights.
Hey Friends! No "trick" questions there...but it's intriguing, isn't it? To hear other ideas coming from other perspectives?
With regard to the faith/obedience question..or answer. Of course, we'd *all* say if our children could be endowed with only one thing, that would be it! Because faith in Jesus is the only thing that saves--and it's expressed through our love for Him, which He says will be sure if we keep His commandments.
If you've never experienced a church situation in which obedience was preached apart from grace--almost at the expense of faith--consider yourselves blessed! For those of us who have, it can be a *journey* to rediscover liberty in Christ without "throwing the baby out with the bathwater."
Or it may just be that to understand what I just said, you have to actually *be* me. lol.
I chose faith - because bottom line, faith in God and obedience/faith in His Word directs all areas of a person's life. And gets them into Heaven.
But as far as Teaching the children, you really put some insight on what we as parents are to do. In living this life, compassion and love - Did not Jesus say Love is greater than faith or the "law"? And we can teach that, relationally. But can we really teach faith, or can we only model it?
YOu challenged my thinking and
made some excellent points.
~C
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