Last Wednesday night was the Awana Awards Ceremony at our church. During the awards the kids all share some of the things that they learned during the year and they share some of the Scripture verses that are supposed to be memorized and treasured in their heart…
I went over my child’s verse with her repeatedly.
She knew it.
I knew that she knew it.
Yet she walked up on stage with a cheat sheet and began to read off the verse and was stumbling all over it. Before I knew it I had given the “momma finger snap” and told her out loud that she needed to put that paper down and say her verse.
Once the cheat sheet came down the verse flowed out smooth and clear.
There is a standard my husband and I hold for our children.
First things first.
God is to be first.
If my child can sing the Dora Explorer theme song at 2 years old while playing with her Dora doll in the tub, she can memorize Scripture.
If my child can learn the entire part of Imogene Herdman in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at age 8 she can memorize Scripture.
Last Sunday I had to confront my 12 year old on why she was walking out the house to church without her Bible in hand.
She responded that everything was in her Sunday school book, she didn’t need it.
Not an acceptable answer for this mom…
She has not been raised to be spoon fed off another’s plate. She’s been raised to feed herself… why on earth would we expect her to leave the children’s ministry carrying her own Bible and enter the youth without it. She doesn’t use someone else’s glove or bat when she steps on to the softball field… should we expect less when it comes to stepping into church.
We have lowered the bar in so many areas in what we expect from our kids in the area of their spiritual growth and even academics yet we have raised it to almost unreachable levels when it comes to sports and other hobbies. Of course the excuse for the drive is always for a “college scholarship” As if going to college will be their salvation in this life. Sadly when they get their and have put so little into their character and integrity many end up in a pit that they can’t get out of and end up losing that scholarship along with their name and their respect.
We need to learn to raise the bar in the right areas…
When we look at history we see that Jonathan Edwards entered Yale College at 12 years old. By the age of 17 he had graduated as valedictorian and by 19 years of age, after two years of study in theology he was filling a pulpit. By the age of 30 he was key in being used by God to begin the Great Awakening.
By the age of 11 years old J0hn Quincy Adams was a congressional appointed secretary to his father who was the American ambassador to France, by 14 years old he was appointed secretary to our ambassador to Russia, and by 16 years old he was recognized by the President of the United States, George Washington, as one of the most valuable characters abroad representing our country.
When we look to the Scriptures we see that at 8 years of age Josiah became king of Israel and by his eighteenth year as king, at 26 years of age, he read the book of the Law for the first time and brought revival to a nation.
Today, at 26 years of age in America grown adults are still required by law to be able to mooch off their parents insurance, even if they are healthy, strong, supposedly intelligent individuals.
There was a day when a 13 year old boy was considered a man.
Today we look at a 30 year old and still call them a kid.
Today we expect little, little is invested, therefore little is achieved.
In this great day of knowledge and technology and our supposed so far advancement from the dark ages… how is it that our knowledge grows , but our ability to be responsible for own actions and personhood diminishes.
We have a President today that mocks our past greatness… He stands on the platform of Planned Parenthood and mocks the foundations of this country and the integrity and character on which it was built… because some people seem to have a problem with men and women who call themselves doctors, who took an oath to heal and help, yet instead choose to kill and destroy.
Mr President if we were so dumb and backwards back then, why all the greatness of men and women who brought true and good change to our nation as they supported and strove for the rights of equality of life for all mankind, no matter age, sex, race, or religion?
If we have achieved such knowledge and grandeur in this day, how is it that in this country’s beginning an 11 year old was committed and cognitive enough to be an official ambassador representing our country and yet today in our country an 11 year old is doing good to be able to go to the bathroom by themselves and read Cat in the Hat?
I don’t believe this is the governments fault. I don’t believe it’s the schools fault. I don’t even believe it’s the cultures fault.
It’s our fault, dads and moms, our fault.
There was a day where it was the parent’s responsibility to teach their child. They understood it was their responsibility to teach their kids to succeed and learn and grow. It was their responsibility and great honor and desire and privilege to invest in the lives of their kids. It was their responsibility to tell their kids… You are not a kid anymore. What you say and what you do matters and has an effect on others. You were born to make an impact in the lives of those around you and that starts now.
I not long ago had to have a conversation with my child about how her Sunday night class was treating their teacher. Her class is comprised of our 3rd – 5th graders. These kids seemed to be completely oblivious that their words and actions had power to affect the adults around them. They were too caught up in their own selves to even have concern for the one who was there trying to teach them. I explained to my child that the way she behaved demonstrated to her teacher whether she respected her or not, and whether she respected her or not demonstrated whether her teacher felt loved and appreciated and even liked.
Yes, at 8 years old what my child said and did and how she treated others had an affect on those around her… yes, even the adults around her. She needed to be made aware of that.
It’s not just about obedience and minding the teacher. It’s more about the fact that they should be aware that they carry an impact in this world.
They matter.
They matter in what they say and do and they matter in the fact that what they say and do has an effect on those around them which in fact impacts their community and their world.
Maybe you might think I am thinking too big… but I don’t think so.
Like I said, my husband and I expect much from our kids when it comes to the things of God and the things of kindness and common courtesy and using their heads.
We see the time, energy, and effort they are willing and able to put into things that have no eternal impact or benefit… why on earth would we expect and require less from them when it comes to the things that do?
It’s time to raise the bar in this nation.
It must begin with it being raised at home and it must be raised in our churches.