As I’ve observed and worked with families over the last few
years, I have developed a great amount of appreciation and reverence for the
family unit. Parents, you have the most
important job in the world. More than
just keeping them alive, you are responsible for the shaping and forming of
your tiny human’s spiritual development.
Life gets busy and raising a family is hard. But, if our
work is not spirit-led, then it’s just work.
All throughout Scripture, honoring the family and the continuation of a
lineage is of extreme importance. We as
Americans have lost the importance of “maintaining the family name”, but in
other cultures, representing your family well is tremendously valued.
In Hispanic cultures, individuals keep both their father’s
last name and their mother’s maiden
name so that others will know to whom they belong. Is it evident to whom you and your children
belong?
When leaving their house, my dear friend’s mother would always
say to me “remember who you are”. Mrs.
Melody wasn’t saying don’t forget your name, but more importantly, remember who
you represent.
We’re all guilty of getting so caught up in our work; our
own little worlds, pursuing what’s good that we forget what is best. We have
forgotten to Whom we belong. Parents, I
pray that you never get so busy “changing the world” and doing what’s good that
you forget what’s best for your family.
But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into
practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the
winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. -Matthew
7:26-27
In Matthew 7 Jesus makes it clear that without a solid
foundation a house will fall. The same is
true for our children; without a solid foundational upbringing, they will
struggle to withstand the storms of life.
Do you remember whose you are?
Are you proclaiming that same truth to your children?
May we build our houses, our marriages, and our families
upon the Rock.
