Month: April 2011

by

How do you raise children in this day and age?

How do you raise children in this day in age? A friend with young ones asked me. All I could say and my only advice for her is that you raise each child one prayer at a time.

My eldest son phoned me to let me know he was in a accident with a truck. His little car was hit from behind by a huge truck. My son walked away without a scratch on him. No one was injured apart from his car being a total right off. He was confident and not phased at all by this accident. Would the outcome be different without praying parent?

My eldest daughter told me with a quivering voice. She got on the wrong train and day turned to night. The train guards saw her and rode the train with her. She lost her phone and couldn’t phone anyone. She said she was praying for protection the whole time on the train and on her walk all alone late at night to her flat. She told me if only she had written down emergency numbers on some paper in her purse like I use to do for them when they were small she could have got some help. She told me once she had lost her phone she had no way of calling anyone. The only thing she could think to do was pray and then the guards turned up and then she kept praying in the dark until she got to her flat safely. Would the outcome be different without the prayers of a daughter and Mother?

I see my oldest children run to and then away from God. They sometimes live in a worldly way. In times of trouble they run to and seek God. Isn’t that the way for a lot of us. I am thankful they do believe and have been baptized. They have been taught and know the truth. It is up to them if they choose to follow Jesus. God gave us free will. To choose Him or to reject Him. Even Pastor’s kids get to choose.

At times it can be a hard and narrow road being a Christian in this world. It isn’t easy. The life of parties and worldly living is enticing to teenagers and young adults. The thrill of the unknown and the new. The worldly life is empty, hollow and fleeting. Age teaches us that those thrills are nothing compared to the thrill and joy in walking with Jesus. But that is just it. There is a wise saying that says “You can’t put an old head on young shoulders”. In other words young people don’t have the wisdom that experience and age gives you.

When your children are small you think the struggles of the day are difficult. Just to get your gorgeous baby to sleep is a triumph. When they are small you can know they are safe cradled in your arms at home. Putting band aids on grazed knee’s is simple solution to their pain. Listening to their big problems of so and so has had more time on the computer and life is so unfair. Can frazzle the best of parents. For me it has been far harder seeing my older kids make mistakes and watching them do it. I have learnt lessons in letting go. The lessons they have to learn is between them and God. Mum’s can’t always be there to catch them when they fall like when they were little. Mum and Dad can pray, listen, use wisdom when to let go, step in or to speak at the right moments. Parents can always have a welcoming heart and a warm home and arms ready to hug the prodigal child.

While my big kids have breath there is hope. While anyone has breath there is hope. While I have breath I will pray, pray and pray some more. There is no doubt in my mind God and His Angels have been watching over our family especially my children my big kids. God has been protecting them without a doubt.

My mind turns to how many times in the bible men argue with God and pray for His intervention for God to change His Holy mind. The scripture that helps me through these tricky times with my big kids is in James 5:16 (NKJV)… “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

I know for my family prayer has availed much. I can never thank my Saviour enough for answered prayer.

20110420-011411.jpg