I have written before about how much I have learned from being a father. Each day I am challenged with lessons of love, discipline, joy, anger, selfishness, and humility. I try my best to cherish each day with my family and decipher these lessons so I can apply them to my life. I trust, if you are a parent, you do the same thing. If you are not a parent, you should still reflect on your days and attempt to grow as a result.
My kids continue to amaze me by how much they know, observe, and grow. I often seem to slip into cruise control as a parent though. By that, I mean, I tend to think that I will deal with all of the important stuff as it comes along. I mean, they are just 5, 3, and 1, how much can they really learn anyway? Eventually, when the time is right, I will teach them what they need to know. Maybe they will just see how I do things and learn it that way. (which is important). They will turn out ok, great even. I will get to it.
You ever have one of those moments? You know, where you get smacked in the face? You realize "things?" Some call it a wake-up call. We see it in sports a lot. The team has been coasting and now they are losing. They realize it, get their game faces on, man up and start taking their assignments and responsibilities seriously. They pull it out and win the game. The result is good, but their effort was poor for the majority of the game. Well, who cares as long as the result is a win? The coach does. He has to consider the efforts for future performances and game trials.
It is the same way with our walk, responsibilities, parenting, and marriages. We can not be satisfied with just barely squeaking out a win. We need to be intentional in our families lives. We have an enemy, the devil, who is aiming for our family units. Trust me, I know.
I had another one of "those moments" last night. Madelyn, our oldest daughter, is in k5 at Brainerd Baptist School. (and we love the school...here is the website www.brainerdbaptistschool.org, you should check it out. shameless plug I know. Oh, if you send your kid there, tell them I referred ya, it will help my tuition :) ) We are completely sold-out on the philosophy and ministry of the school. The staff and the teachers see it as a ministry. Each week, Madelyn has homework. In k5. Yep, you heard me. Anyway, since I cannot change this, we choose to embrace this.
Last week, Madelyn comes home and says she has to memorize Psalm 100 for chapel in a few weeks. I blew it off and was going to talk to her teacher to see what this was about. When I asked, it was confirmed. They are memorizing Psalm 100. Kinda cute I thought. I'm sure they won't get it, but it will be adorable anyway.
As I read our weekly note home, I saw the reminder about Psalm 100. As I opened her homework folder (yeah, again, homework...in k5...) there was a page with Psalm 100 printed out. I set it to the side as we did her other two sheets of homework. I thought, well, I will read over it with her later tonight.
Little did I know that they were working on it everyday in their class. I should have known, but this was one of those cruise control moments. I mean, come on, is a five year old really gonna memorize five consecutive verses? Its cool to memorize a partial verse or two for Awana or Sunday school, but there is no way she can memorize a five verse chapter word for word, right? When she is older we will do that, and she will be just fine.
It was bedtime last night and I was helping Casey get her pajamas on. Sue was helping Madelyn with her verses. I though to myself, how cute. Maybe she will get a little bit of it. Madelyn comes into the room, "Daddy, do you wanna hear my verses of Psalm 100?" I responded, "Sure sweety, let me see the sheet, and we will read it together." She quickly said, "No daddy, you hold the sheet, and I'll stand over here and say it." Ok, I thought, this will be fun, I will help her with all the words. Then I got slapped in the face. My wake up call...
Madelyn then says, " Psalm 100. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve (she opens and extends her hands) the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing! Know that The Lord, He is God. It is He who made us, Not we ourselves (she pats her chest.) and we are His, we are his people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter (she motions with her hands as an invitation) His gates with thanksgiving, and enter His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him and bless His name.....I still need to learn verse 5 daddy. How did I do, daddy?" .....yeah, I was speechless too. Incredible! I had tears rolling down my face. So simple. My five year old daughter is one verse away from memorizing a chapter of God's holy Word. Better than me....
While I am so grateful for a school that is emphasizing this, it was a serious wake-up call to me. What am I valuing at home, and what do they see that I value? I guarantee that I will be helping her with the last verse.
There is no time for us to be cruise control parents. They are learning from every source possible. Question is, will we be intentional about what they learn and the culture and value system they inherit? I know I will.
As parents, lets raise the bar and invest and instill into our kids! Even though they are young, we have to teach them. Then, when they encounter "those moments and issues" later in life, maybe they'll be prepared to tackle it, rather than having to learn it at that point.
Lets be parents that drive, not just coast on cruise. And, let's be followers of Christ that drive.