Make it Count

There are so many choices when it comes to parenthood. Cloth diapers or disposable, breastfeed or formula, organic diet or not, homeschool, public or private school, curfew or not, when to date, what they can wear, what movies they can watch, and the list goes on and on.  On the above, I believe each parent should decide what is best for their children.  I was so hard on myself for months with Asher trying to be "perfect."  The job of a parent is overwhelming.  It's a task full of mistakes and learning experiences, but it is also the most important thing we will ever do.  We have a one year old, Asher, and a baby girl on the way.  We will raise these kids that will one day grow up and be in this world.   Carrying a burden too heavy to carry on my own, I finally went to prayer, asking God what He desires of me.  Asking for wisdom.  He has shown me what I believe to be truth based on His word and the Holy Spirit.  

I want to share mine and Peyton's heart for our family because we want to encourage others in their parenting and marriage. 

Why? Take a look at these scriptures:

"See how very much our Father loves us. For He calls us His children, and that is what we are."  

1 John 3:1 

"Let us be glad and rejoice and let us give honor to Him.  For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and His bride has prepared herself." Revelation 19:7-8

Over and over through the bible, God is shown as Father and Husband.  He tells us we are His children and His bride.  He reveals Himself through the family, and when the family is distorted, so is our view of God.  Satan knows this.  He is working to destroy the family unit, and if you look at this world and our nation, it's working.  Through lust, pornography, selfishness, work, time, idols, addictions, money, etc... our families our being ripped apart.   We are told to give up when things get rocky and to base our marriages on what we feel that day.  We hold our standards to what we see through media and wonder why families are broken.  Satan is tearing at the heart of what God set up to be joy.   How can we see God the Father as a true protector and provider if our earthly father has left us heartbroken? But this is where Peyton and I feel we must be different as a family.  Our decisions do not only affect us, they affect our children and grandchildren, their future spouses and friends.  What we leave with our children gets passed to generations.  

So what do we want to leave them?

First, our children will know our family is serving God.  Peyton and I have given our children to God, promising to teach them His word.  We want to show them how Jesus loves others.  Humility.  Compassion.  Selflessness.  Serving others the way Jesus did.  We want them to know how to love God in a world that mocks Him.   To love those who do wrong to them and forgive others.  We want our kids to give glory to God in their success and failures.  To trust in Him for everything.  To be set apart from this world.   We believe our children will face much more persecution than we have had to deal with, and we choose to arm them for battle, with scripture as a sword. They must see our example, starting now. If we want to raise warriors for Christ, we must first show them how by our lives.   We must shower them with prayer and scripture.  We must be different than others around us.  We must guard our eyes and ears from what we watch.  We must step out in faith when God calls us to, and trust in Him when troubles come our way.  We must run the race full speed and use our talents for His kingdom.  They will see our actions, not just our words.   

Secondly, our children will know that Peyton and I love each other.  Peyton and I have vowed to never even speak the word 'divorce' (even jokingly.)  We are far from perfect, and have had our share of arguments (especially in the stress of a crying newborn.)  However, we take care to guard our marriage.  So what does this have to do with how we raise our children?  I love my son and unborn children more than words can say on here.  It's a motherly love that goes so, so deep.  But I must love Peyton first.  My kids will grow up one day and leave, but Peyton and I will still have each other.  If our kids see stability and a selfless love in their parents' marriage, then we have taught them more than words can teach: How to love and be loved.  They will never fear that one day their mom or dad will leave.  We are a team, and we raise them as a team.  A happy marriage makes for a happy home for our children.  A selfless marriage shows them how Christ loves His church. 

Finally, our children will know we love them.  I will stop my chores for the day and take them outside to play.  We will play in the living room floor when we are exhausted.  We will go on adventures, even if we have to eat pb&j's for  a week.  Peyton and I will listen to them when they want to talk, and cuddle with them when they want to cuddle.  We will build forts, go bowling, order pizzas, and play hide and seek. We will play even when we don't think we have time.  They will see how God loves His children.  How He picks us up when we fall and dusts off our knees.  How He giggles at our ignorance and disciplines us when we need it.  How He loves us even at our worst.  

Once our children are out in the world, they will make their own decisions, and we will love them regardless.  But for this short time, God has entrusted them to us....and we will make it count.