Home As A Haven: Part Two
Last week I shared some thoughts on family and my own heritage and legacy that’s been given to me. This week I want to broaden my focus.
I feel saddened by the wreckage that seems to be increasing in families. I’m sure our enemy (Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood…”) knows if families are destabilized the whole fabric of life can be torn. As a woman, I grieve when I hear vicious attacks on what it means to be a woman, wife and mother. I’m sure I ask what so many others do, “What can I do to help stop all of this?”
This blog post is part of my answer. Understanding and valuing what is right and good matters. Providing a solid foundation in our homes through our actions and words matters. Being aware of what is true and recognizing attacks on God’s truth is important. At times I can feel sorry for those who have such a skewed view of life they would promote the idea of not even knowing if someone is a male or female. How horrible to not even embrace a certainty as to whether or not a person is a boy or girl, man or woman! If there is confusion about that, a foundational truth and reality about life is missing. It follows that I would expect there to be no clarity whatsoever about what is true and good and what is a lie and evil in almost any area.
So what is something that can be done to help stop the devastation of such things? Or to state it positively: How do I build up, promote, and support what is good and true?
We all have a sphere of influence. My own starts with my family. I believe God entrusted my husband and I with the responsibility of raising our children and training them up for Him. Scripture provides us with that clear mandate so I don’t have to be insecure about who gave me the “authority” to do that job. Training children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord is an act of obedience on the part of parents.
I knew taking my role as a mother very seriously would be something I never regretted. My chief aim was to raise my children to know and love God. Any other goal would be unsatisfactory in the end. My children have heard me say many times how fervently I pray each and every member of my family will stand before God someday, praising Him together, and hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” No one missing…every single one there.
I knew from the beginning of having children that this was a full time job. While I might join them pursuing dreams and goals they have for themselves, and love watching the development of gifts and talents, the focus on their souls was my number one priority. This meant I spent a large amount of time instructing my children in God’s Word. Regular reading of Scripture was a priority and we emphasized Scripture memorization so our children would have God’s words of wisdom in their minds during times of need. (Psalm 119:11, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”) We made sure we attended a Bible believing church filled with people who loved God and had the same goals and outlook for their own lives and families.
I also recognized that while I may entrust this training of my children at times to others who would teach and instruct; as parents, we were the gatekeepers. I had seen too many examples of parents who had let their guard down and entrusted their children to people who in the end produced destruction because they didn’t love the children in the first place, and had agendas antithetical to Christian truth and growth. Unfortunately, we can all see that many people have “agendas” they try to impart, especially in children and young people. With the percentage of people who are actually Christians decreasing in our country, it would be certain our children have a much greater chance of being exposed to those who believe things we don’t. The entertainment industry is full of messages promoting the exact opposite of a Christian worldview. And internet and social media platforms are a smorgasbord of every possible thing from extremely evil to very good. Trying to monitor such things can feel exhausting, but the home we want to be a haven can come under serious attack in our children’s hearts if we let our guard down and all of these things come through anyway in the phone, computer, and television.
Philippians 3:8 comes to mind, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” If we apply this verse to our lives and that of our children’s too, we have so many wonderful options open to us…good things we can pursue in life.
Galatians 6:9-10 are also good reminders for us: “And let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
My prayer is that Christian families will become a light of hope in this desperately broken world. And may we not become weary. In the end, time actually seems to go very fast.
