Parenting with Kingdom Purpose
October 9th, 2009 by Angela
Parenting. It’s not easy. We may have Norman Rockwell images floating in our heads and have grandiose ideas of what kind of mom or dad we will be when we become parents…but reality might be a little different! I remember when Tony and I bought our first house, there was green marker scribbled on the hardwood floor, and I thought, “that will NEVER happen when I’m a Mom. I’ll watch my kids better than that!”
And then I had kids.
I love this movie clip, not because of the movie itself, but because it can represent a day in the life of a mom (or a dad), when things aren’t so perfect… and we wonder what we are doing and why. I especially can identify with the mom, when actor, Anthony Edwards asks her, “Do you think this is the best use of your creative energy?” Nothing is more emotionally draining and sometimes, more mundane as household chores and taking care of a child. Some days, a mother can just yearn for adult conversation. With anyone. There is no glory in mopping sticky jelly off of a highchair, for the cazillionth time, nor cleaning toilets and making beds, changing another diaper, and wiping another runny nose…or is there? “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ Matthew 25:40.
On some of our most frustrating days (and there will be some of those!), we need a gentle reminder that we are more than just a babysitter. We hold the responsibility of a life in our hands, and as Psalm 127 puts it so eloquently, “children are a gift of the LORD… a reward.”
Parenting is so much more than what a person may see on the surface. If we only need someone to keep our children safe, clean, and fed, than many people could do this job, and we could move on to more important and creative tasks with our time. However, the goal of our parenting runs much deeper and holds much richer meaning and purpose than that! Our goal as parents is to raise up a child, who will love and serve the one and only living God, YHWH, with all their hearts, souls and minds and to love others. We need to teach them the most important command, that the LORD our God is one Lord. Our purpose is to train our little ones, so that they will learn to live obedient lives to our Heavenly Father. Our goal is to teach them to look to Jesus, the Messiah, to be their lord and savior of their lives, so that they, too, will inherit the promise of eternal life in a coming Kingdom of God. It’s called “Parenting with Kingdom Purpose!”
When you add that purpose to what we are aiming for as parents, it adds a whole new dimension to our parenting role! Some call parenting, “the highest calling.” And when we have those rough days that are sure to come, and wonder if there could be better things we could be doing with our gifts, talents, education and time, we need to lovingly remind ourselves that there is no greater responsibility than to be grooming our children to be “Children of the King!” They are royalty, co-heirs with Christ, and we need to prepare them for their inheritance! Today, parent with kingdom purpose!
Thanks Angela for taking the time to listen to God’s voice and most of all, for sharing what you hear!
Angela,
This brings to mind the passage in Deut. 6:2, “…that you may fear the LORD your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long.”
We are to teach our children to fear YHWH. But not only our children, but our grandchildren as well. This isn’t referring to a frightened fear but rather a reverent awe of our God, YHWH.
In verses 5-9 we are given a description of how thoroughly we are to be in our faith and how thoroughly we are to teach our children and grandchildren.
“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
Thanks for writing this blog helped me to focus of this Sunday’s message.
Mark D.
Amen! Very well said.
great post, keep ‘em coming : )
Angela, as a new parent, this is my deepest desire – to raise a child who comes to know God in truth and live their entire life for Him. This is a huge task when thought about over a lifetime, however, my wife and I are endeavoring to go one day at a time. It has challenged us both to make sure our lives are right with the LORD if we are going to be discipling our little one! Thank you so much for this post – I have already emailed it to my wife.
Angela,
Wow! That movie clip and the things you said described my new life as a Mom to a “T.” There are some days that you just want one moment to yourself or think wow I am the worst Mom ever!!! But I do sit back and say “Lord this is all for your glory, to enlarge your inheritance in the kingdom.” I want my child to love God as His child did, I want her to look like Jesus someday and that is a glorious task and an amazing privilege to have. It is also a bit scary and I certainly need the encouragement of the brethern. So thanks for writing this to remind me today of the purpose of my role as a Mom.
Thanks for all the comments!
And yes, when we look at what a major responsibility and gift we have as parents, to teach, train & love our children…it can feel overwhelming at times. I love this quote from Anne Ortlund who boils down for us a simple definition of what it means to be a successful parent:
“Successful parenting means:
One, becoming what you should be.
And two, staying close enough to the children for it to rub off.”
When we love God and His Son, Jesus, and have a passion for what they have a passion for (i.e. loving others; the coming kingdom…), and intentionally live this out in front of our kids in a real way and teach this to them, even with our mistakes (that all parents make)…. then our kids, like sponges, will soak this up and bring us joy. There’s a lot of real work in the midst of it (diapers, feedings, discipline, homework, laundry), but God is there in the everyday of things – and when we serve and sacrifice those things up to the LORD – He rewards & blesses. And the beauty of it all? Our kids catch our heart’s devotion.
God is good.