Ever so often you get recommended a book that you think will be one that will help you be more efficient or better in what you do for a living and then when you read it, it makes you a better parent. I'm finishing up a book entitled Family Ministry Field Guide by Timothy Paul Jones.
If any of you know me that well I've becomed consumed with intergenerational ministry, resourcing families, and creating partnerships with churches and families for the sake of spiritual formation. In the midst of all the books I'm reading and stories I'm experiencing, my life is changing as I think about how that affects me as a husband, father, and pastor. (in that order)
One particular chapter significantly captured my attention. To sum it up quickly it began to challenge parents as what it would look like if we began to look at our children as partners in the Kingdom of God. In that partnership your role as a parent isn't taken away, but you are dreaming for thier lives what it would mean if you invited them into the Kingdom life alongside you and pointed out the times you saw the Kingdom play out for them. I began to day dream what this would look like for me and then this happened:
We've been finishing up an Advent booklet together as a famiy and walked together through the journey of advent and then into the days of Christmas following. The other day (right after reading this chapter) the challenge was to pray for those in your life you know are sick and then do something for them to let them know they are loved. We listed off several names and each took a turn praying for many in our lives struggling with cancer, recent deaths, or who are hurting in some way. (PS to hear a 5 year old or 2 year old call out to God people by name is a faith booster in itself)
I mentioned it may be a good idea for the kids to draw a picture of someone they prayed for. My son thought it meant right now. He grabbed a piece a paper and began to draw and then said we should send some money to them to help them. I mentioned food and then he said he wanted to give his own money. He drew a picture of a manger scene, wrote down he prayed for a lady who is battling leukemia in our church, and then handed me two pennies to send to her. There I found the kingdom. There I found an opportunity to tell him it was alive in him.
I spent 2 minutes explaining how amazing it was that he was thinking of others. I mentioned it was so amazing that he took the time to pray and then tried to validate him by saying the Kingdom of alive in him. I know he's 5, I know he may not grasp everything about the kingdom, but 5 minutes together as a family may make a huge difference.
Each night when we pray over our kids we pray, "God help us to remember we belong to you and help us to learn to love you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to be an example of what love looks like in this world."
When we look at our kids as more than just our kids, but partners in the kingdom, it elevates our own understanding of the Kingdom of God.
You're loved.
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