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Why Your Kids Need People Who Love Jesus

August 6, 2020

It’s been a year, hasn’t it? Since mid-March the world we all know has been turned upside down. No one is exempt from the effects of a worldwide pandemic.

But with everything that has taken place there are two events that have anchored my family.

Anchor 1

The first has been online church. No, it’s not the same. It’s hard to listen to a sermon while your kids are climbing all over you. But an anchor doesn’t stop the storm, it holds you secure in the middle of it all.

An anchor doesn’t stop the storm, it holds you secure in the middle of it all.

Our church has offered a separate children’s program that has been LIFE for our little three. In the first few weeks of shutdown, hearing Mrs Lori call them by name through a tv screen was pure delight.

Along with the video, we also have access to activities we can do with the kids. Some weeks we do them. Some weeks we don’t. A few months back we did an activity with a heart. The kids all tore up a this construction paper heart. Then we put it back together and wrote these words on it:

“No matter what happens….Remember, Jesus is ALIVE!”

That pasted heart has been on our refrigerator ever since. It speaks to me when days get discouraging. I am reminded that our Savior is not surprised by our circumstances. He is an ever present help in our times of trouble.

I am reminded of another truth as well. I am reminded that we are able to help our kids trust Jesus because there are people in our lives that LOVE JESUS and work so hard to provide resources we need to guide our kids in faith.

So a little shout out to Mrs. Lori and Mrs. Jaime who work tirelessly to make lemonade out of a difficult time. And I can’t forget Mrs. Susan and Mrs. Barbara who get online every Saturday to talk with their second grade small group. They make the most out of a 40 minute zoom call and my Charlee is forever marked by these moments with them.

Anchor 2

Our second anchor came in the form of a week of Family Camp at Pine Cove. Again, weirdness abounded as we arrived to camp with masks aplenty and daily temperature checks. But despite the health precautions, the love and care for our family was in abundance. Each of my children were celebrated by leaders who LOVE JESUS more than anything.

I’m thankful for Squirrel, and Drill, and Walk’n (and Bdubs and Pickles, and Speedo and Lava Girl and so many more!) who influenced our children during our week at Camp.

Yes, there was pool time, horseback riding, and zip lines. There were also Family Devo’s and Bible Study time. There were heartfelt prayers with and for us.

My kids saw people who LOVE JESUS and they want to be just like them.

My husband and I are doing our best to raise our kids with the end in mind.

What is our end? To point them to Christ. To be a part of their faith story and watch God use them to introduce others to Christ.

My kids saw people who LOVE JESUS and they want to be just like them.

But we can’t do it by ourselves. We need others who love and serve Jesus with abandon. Our church uses a curriculum called Orange that works from a philosophy that the church and the family partner to grow the faith of our families. It’s not the church’s responsibility to raise our kids to know God and we, as parents, can’t do it alone. So we partner.

As our children grow older, mommy and daddy—who used to be pretty cool and awesome—will be replaced by more trendy role models. We pray these influencers will love Jesus. We pray that what they say will be an echo of what mom and dad have been saying all along—trusting Jesus leads to the best life ever. Not one without difficulties, but one with great reward.

We all need Jesus. Don’t let the isolation of COVID keep you from seeking out those people who LOVE JESUS. Take advantage of the online opportunities to build community both for you and your children. And don’t give up. Pandemic or no. He has overcome the world and is with us always.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33, ESV

What are you doing to build community and bring people into your circle who LOVE JESUS and can be help build your kids faith alongside you? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments!

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Filed Under: kids and faith, parenting

4 Comments

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Comments

  1. Christine says

    August 7, 2020

    Yes! And it will be even more important as your children get older. When they are teens, they may not listen to you, but they may/will listen to adults who are loving them and investing in their lives. There is a whole team of them that have spoken into my children’s lives!

    Reply
    • Patty Parker says

      August 7, 2020

      Amen! Christine, That’s what I want for them especially in those teen years.

      Reply
  2. Daisy says

    August 9, 2020

    So encouraging for a mom of littles. thank you for this post.

    Reply
    • Patty Parker says

      August 10, 2020

      I’m so thankful it was encouraging, Daisy!

      Reply

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Kindness is not weakness. Kindness is strength in Kindness is not weakness. Kindness is strength in action. 
Today we’ll walk for a friend we’ve never met but today he would have been 26. 
His life was snuffed out not because of anything he did. Rather, because his skin color was *wrong*. So today we walk because our skin color is *right*. And we just can’t take these lies any more. 
Because kindness can be shown  with words but it flexes its strength when it moves. When it stands up for others who are created equal but not treated equal. 
Today we walk with our brothers and sisters of color—beautiful color—who need to be heard. Need to be seen. 
Who need to walk/run/jog/laugh/smile/enter a room without fear that their life may be in danger. 
My children will learn that kindness is strength in action. And it starts today— with a walk.  #ahmaudarbery 
#runforahmaud #runforahmaudarbery
“Dom. Charlee. Come meet your baby brother, Devi “Dom. Charlee. Come meet your baby brother, Devin.” My 4 year old son and 18 month old daughter peered at the little red ball yawning and stretching in my arms. “Can I hold him mommy?” Dom held out his arms to hold his new little brother. 
Throughout the day, he came over to stare at his sleeping sibling; offering  hugs before rushing off to play. 
Charlee was equally smitten. With her own baby in her arms, she followed me wherever I went. When I changed the baby’s diaper, she changed her baby doll’s diaper. When I rocked Devin, she rocked her own bundle of joy. 
A family of five felt wonderful. Until—“Mommy, I don’t feel well.” Marshall took Dom to the Doctor. I put my fretting to good use while rocking the baby with Charlee by my side. “It’s pneumonia,” read the text. 
A few days later, Charlee began tugging at her ears. “Looks like an ear infection,” said the dr. “I’ll prescribe an antibiotic.” Worried about the baby, we began Operation Sibling Quarantine. Too late. 
Devin tested positive for RSV at two weeks old. 
Little did I know this was just a taste of what was ahead for our family. Dom would get sick. Two days later, Charlee would come down with a fever. Two days later, I wouldn’t feel so hot. The cycle continued—each family member generously taking his turn with a bout of sickness. “What are you doing?” Marshall asked. 
I stood facing our wall calendar. “I’m tracking who gets sick. Maybe it’s not as bad as it feels.” A month in, I stopped. It was as bad as it felt. 
The struggles extended into nap schedules, car seat arrangements, laundry, bathing, and clothing our family. “It’s our third baby! Shouldn’t we know what we are doing by now?!” At a MOPS meeting, seated across from a mom of three grown boys, I got my answer.
“It takes at least a year to find a new normal after having a baby. Every time.” She continued, “Every time a child is added into the picture, the entire family will need to get a handle on the changes that come with the new addition.” Oh.
**************
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