Well something interesting has happened in the wonderful world of weather; it has snowed in Galveston/Houston/Beaumont TX. How bizarre to me. Yes just 4 months ago Hurricane Ike was ripping the area to shreds and now it's snowing. It was only 3 months ago I stood in a serving line feeding thousands of hungry people in these areas. Now they are making snow angels!!!! Amazingly enough, Beaumont has received 2 to 3 inches of the white stuff. How about some weather trivia friends. Did you know that the last three times that a hurricane has hit that area that it turned around and snowed that December. It happen in 1989 with TS Allison (snowed in Dec), in 1983 with Hurricane Alica (snowed in December) and now again in 2008. Weather is so neat isn't it. I know I'm a big weather nerd, but that's okay with me. By the way, the NWS has issued a flood watch until 9pm as they expect 2 to 3 inches of rain. Keep your eyes on branches and creeks if you live near one.
I heard something by a Hollywood nit-wit that I want to discuss briefly. In a Today Show Interview, Meryl Streep said it was better to let kids "decide for themselves" when it comes to religion. In other words, "I'm a stinky parent who is too sorry and too lazy to make sure my child has proper spiritual upbringing." Apparently Streep grew up very religious (not sure what type) and so she feels that it really bound her. So here's an idea, don't teach your kids squat and let them decide. Oh yes, whatever would we do without the feens in Hollywood sharing their sharp political insight and their deep understanding of faith? Oh I hasten to think how far behind the rest of the world we would be without their keen knowledge on all things.
If I'm being totally honest here, I will confess that I am scared to death that Katie would grow up and get into such a church "rut" that it will lose it's meaning to her when she's older. Anything we "do" a lot of can get repetitious and meaningless if we aren't careful. I've seen it happen in other peoples lives...they are raised in church and then they totally turn away from it. On the other hand, I've seen people raised in church their entire life like my mom and dad and they continue walking in the ways of the Lord.
The difference here is relationship. If I don't teach Katie the value of having a PERSONAL relationship with Jesus, then she will get in a spiritual rut. It will become about routine and rules instead of relationship. The last place I want my child, especially when she becomes a teen, is to find herself in a spiritual rut.
As parents we are obligated to raise our children with an understanding of Jesus and what His sacrifice on the cross means for our lives. We don't leave it up to them. No, we show them instead. We show them His love by the way we love them. We show them His mercy by the way we show them mercy. We show them His grace by the way we demonstrate grace to them. We show them His heart for the lost by the way we "go" to every corner of the world to share salvation. NO NO NO, we can't leave it up for them to decide. We must show them the way. They do have the free will to accept "the way" or to reject it, but our job as parents is to blaze a trail for our children that shows them a relationship with Christ.
Be strong parents! Don't let the world tell you what is good and acceptable for your child. Feed them the bread of life and teach them about the living water and I am confident they will not depart from it! Even if they do for a season walk away, be assured the know the proper way "home" because you have showed them every day of their lives!
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