2 Timothy 3:14-15 (NLT) 14 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. 15 You have been taught the Holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.
Sadly, sometimes our mistakes can follow us and often times fall down to our children… actually, they can fall from generation to generation. Often times while going through life we make instant choices or decision not taking the time to see how they may or may not affect those around us, even our own children. We go by emotions, what feels good at the time and sometimes just out of pure selfishness. Also mixed in with that are honest mistakes because sometimes we didn't take the time to pray and ask God for guidance or at the very least think things through.
After the mistakes are made we then look back and wonder how we allowed such things to happen or why did we not do things better. Now I am surely not saying that we shouldn’t or won't make mistakes because I know we all will; we're human. However, if we took the time to pray and seek God's will over our own then they would be less and less.
Looking back over our past, I've become very aware of changes that need to be made and I have started with the things that I can control. Because I don't want our children to have to suffer from our mistakes, so much of what I do now is for them; how I conduct myself, the way I talk, the choices I make and the things I shield them from. I realize there are some mistakes we, as their parents, have made and I desperately want to save them from those same mistakes. These choices have followed us and some to this day affect us and sometimes them as well. It is my heart’s desire that we can change the course of some of these or at the very least begin to alter them.
Deuteronomy 11:18-21 (NLT) 18 “So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 19 Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 20 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21 so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors.
However, I am aware that we are not perfect and we can not change everything; but I also know that in order to create that change or to help start a better life for our children that it has to start somewhere. I believe the best way to do this is to teach them about God, how to live for Him and how important it is to put Him first in their lives. I openly and with intent try to show them that I am doing my best to put God first in our lives. I talk to them about Him and encourage them to talk to Him on their own. I pray daily that they will develop their own personal relationship with Him so that they will be spiritually open to His guidance instead of that of their own.
There are days, while talking to my children, I can see that God is blessing me with this because of the things they say and do. They become more and more aware of the importance of Him; knowing about Him and thanking Him. Just yesterday my son added to the prayer board a prayer that God will help him to understand more when he goes to church and after Sunday's service my daughter said how powerful the message was. My oldest is very diligent in prayer and comes to me often with prayers for her and her friends. I'm so thankful to God for opening my eyes to this and for helping me see new ideas and ways to show my children of His greatness.
Isaiah 54:13 (NIV) 13 All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace.
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