What dreams do you have for your children?
Proud moms like us can see all the potential stored up in in our offspring. Even before others discover their talents and gifts, we have inklings of what each of these precious ones can become. From their youngest years, it is easy to begin dreaming about what their future holds.
My daughter was singing beautifully at age two. My son threw a football across the nursery when he was nine months of age. Each of my little ones displayed qualities for which I knew they had talent. I wondered how they would develop and what path these obvious abilities would take them. Throughout the years, it has been my joy to see them growing in these areas and having opportunities to shine.
As our children progress we want to provide them with outlets for their God-given talents. We often sign them up at young ages for music lessons, sports teams, and other opportunities to improve so that they will have an edge on others. We invest countless dollars and hours helping them reach our dreams for them.
While these efforts can be productive and satisfying, there is a bigger dream that we should be dreaming for our children.
The Apostle John wrote a letter to a man named Gaius whom he commended for his good testimony. It seems that Gaius was one of John’s spiritual children and other Christian brothers had reported to John that Gaius was walking in the truth. He held fast to the Gospel message and His faithfulness to his brothers and sisters in Christ was evident even when they were strangers. In response John exclaimed, “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in truth.” (3 John 4)
John’s greatest dream for those he had brought to Christ was that they would stay true to the accurate salvation message, and that false teachers would not deter them. He desired that all believers would walk with God, loving and serving Him, and that they would hold on to right doctrine. Not only did John hope they would express the truth in words, but he trusted their actions would match.
Sometimes, in the hustle and bustle of rushing to the next sporting event or music practice, it is easy to lose this most important dream for our children. While working to help them grow physically and developmentally, we must also keep in mind the growth of their souls and relationships to God.
Throughout the Bible, God talks about people who walked with Him. These friends of God chose lifestyles that would honor and please Him. They kept His commandments, feared Him, and walked in His ways. (Deut. 8:6) They also chose to steer away from things that would displease Him and people who would lead them astray (Psalm 1:1).
Are we willing to invest as much time and money on our children’s walk with God as we do on their other activities? Pray faithfully that God will capture their hearts. Model the kind of walk God wants them to have. Take them to a Bible-believing church where they can learn the truth. Informally teach them at home throughout the day as opportunity arises.
Tonight I will go to our town’s musical production held in our historical opera house. I will lean back in my seat and thrill as my daughter sings her heart out and her voice joins with the rest of the choir. I always dreamed she would have this opportunity.
But it’s not my biggest dream for her.
I pray that she will choose to walk with God all the days of her life whether she is singing or not!
That will be my greatest joy!
What about you?
What do you desire most for your children?
Ask God to show you how you can guide your young ones to a closer walk with Him.
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