K

I recently had a dream that my husband and I had been separated from our children and no matter how hard we tried we couldn’t get to where they were. They were not in any immediate danger, but the shear panic of not being able to touch and hold them created a fear in me even when I opened my eyes.

Although those types of dreams are scary and uncomfortable, I am thankful that God allows me to experience them because a lesson usually follows. It is not lost on me that my children will one day have to face this big world alone and without my constant watch- a day that I pray I have prepared for them starting now. If you have young children like me, you may too be feeling the pressure from all sides as the atmosphere continues to shift and the days we live continue to become strange. I want to whisper a little nugget of truth into your heart today – God is still in control. Being a parent in such an upside world can be scary especially when our children aren’t within reach, but if you have covered them with oily crosses and a multitude of prayers then God surrounds.

We send them to school in prayer that those who get the honor of spending time with our children have their best interest at heart, are teaching them love and kindness and keeping a close eye on our most prized possessions from God. This is where your prayers and time spent in God’s word with your children is imperative! Starting now is a wonderful time to begin teaching your children the truth, the fruits of the spirit, the love of Jesus and above all the importance of discipleship. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you cannot depend on anyone else to train up your child than you. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it “Proverbs 22:6.

We love the teachers in our children’s lives, but there is no greater job than insuring your children know Jesus when you are not around as a reminder. It starts in living rooms. It starts with a nightly Bible study filled with the occasional toddler tantrums and pre-teen attitudes (if you know, you know) and end of day exhaustion. It truly starts with you! The routine doesn’t have to be perfect, messy is how most of our nights go, but it does need to be intentional. One thing we do with our children every night besides prayer is share with each other one positive thing about our day. This encouragement creates an atmosphere of gratitude before bedtime and allows us to foster in a spirit filled prayer with hearts aligned and calm in our minds. I would encourage you to start a nightly pow-wow in your living room this week even in the midst of the busy schedules, practices, fall break fun and the fatigue.

Pray asking God for wisdom as you lead your children through the Bible – chapter by chapter and verse by verse. This coveted time together will soon diminish as your children move into new phases of life, but if you center their hearts with the love of Christ you can rest assured even out of your sight they will always know the Way.

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”  3 John 1:4 

Blessings,

Kayla