The Litmus Test
Now that my daughter is away at college, getting an education and hopefully living a life that's pleasing to God—despite pressure from the culture to live in defiance of Him—I'll let you in on a secret: I wonder if I got it right.
Only the Father knows how much time I have spent teaching her about the things of God—His ways, His statutes, His voice. In my efforts to be a godly parent, I tried relentlessly to instill character in her and mold her into a viable and responsible member of society.
I spent a lot of money too. She took ballet lessons; competed in numerous oratorical contests; worked as a Senate page for the Florida Legislature; and was a cheerleader from the sixth grade through the 12th (if I see another round-off, backhand spring, back flip, I'll faint!). She has received numerous awards and commendations for her efforts, and no doubt the praise of her peers.
But at the end of one of my very exhausting days several years ago, I realized a spiritual truth that keeps me grounded today: Only what you do for Christ will last.
Once I was reminded of that revelation, I started directing my daughter down a different path. She had always been active in church life, but I took her from the pew to the street. She got involved with ministry to homeless and hungry people and helped our church feed some 28,000 families. She turned off the television and started reading to children at the local middle school who were at risk of being retained. And instead of spending all her time on Facebook, she now looks into the faces of young girls she mentors and tells them, "You are somebody."
I know it's tough being a parent and extremely discouraging at times. You have to contend with a culture that's beckoning to your children to go down a wrong path. That's why I sometimes deviate from the usual topics I blog about to encourage women like you.
Don't give in and don't give up. Raise your children to be the best they can be and to leave their mark on the world, but don't forget to train them to make a difference for eternity. You want your kids to pass God's litmus test. You want to hear Him tell them, "Well done."
Valerie G. Lowe is the editor of spiritledwoman.com and associate editor of Charisma magazine.
Only the Father knows how much time I have spent teaching her about the things of God—His ways, His statutes, His voice. In my efforts to be a godly parent, I tried relentlessly to instill character in her and mold her into a viable and responsible member of society.
I spent a lot of money too. She took ballet lessons; competed in numerous oratorical contests; worked as a Senate page for the Florida Legislature; and was a cheerleader from the sixth grade through the 12th (if I see another round-off, backhand spring, back flip, I'll faint!). She has received numerous awards and commendations for her efforts, and no doubt the praise of her peers.
But at the end of one of my very exhausting days several years ago, I realized a spiritual truth that keeps me grounded today: Only what you do for Christ will last.
Once I was reminded of that revelation, I started directing my daughter down a different path. She had always been active in church life, but I took her from the pew to the street. She got involved with ministry to homeless and hungry people and helped our church feed some 28,000 families. She turned off the television and started reading to children at the local middle school who were at risk of being retained. And instead of spending all her time on Facebook, she now looks into the faces of young girls she mentors and tells them, "You are somebody."
I know it's tough being a parent and extremely discouraging at times. You have to contend with a culture that's beckoning to your children to go down a wrong path. That's why I sometimes deviate from the usual topics I blog about to encourage women like you.
Don't give in and don't give up. Raise your children to be the best they can be and to leave their mark on the world, but don't forget to train them to make a difference for eternity. You want your kids to pass God's litmus test. You want to hear Him tell them, "Well done."
Valerie G. Lowe is the editor of spiritledwoman.com and associate editor of Charisma magazine.
posted by Valerie G. Lowe at
1:44 PM
7 Comments:
Wonderful comments. I am going to pass this on to my friends. Our three daughters are grown now and know God. We did not start attending church regularly until they were in their preteens and it was almost too late. I thank God that they met him.
Well the whole idea of young women going off to college is unBiblical and following the depraved culture of today. The sole purpose is to disobey what God has called women to be--wives and mothers who take care of their homes and families9A fulltime job!!!). So is she has a career and then has children, she will leave them to others to raise and then one day will wonder why none of her children love or serve the Lord when adults. CHildren are to be homeschooled. Sending them to Public School almost guarantees them being totally corrupted and ending up damned forever.
We are not doing things God's way. The Biblical Family has been COMPLETELY UNDERMINED AND OVERTURNED in this nation and the church is following the world, and we are losing our children at a rate of 3 out of four and the divorce rate is over 50%. We have forsaken God's ways and are reaping the consequences.
I commend you on a job well done as a Christian parent of such a focused daughter who is centered on the plans God has for her life!
I am a married adult daughter of Christian parents who was saved at the very young age of 4. Basically, I have known about Jesus as my Friend all 40+ years of my life; there was never a time when I didnt know Him. I, too, was very involved in the church growing up. I even graduated from a Christian college. I got married in my early twenties; at the present my husband and I have no children of my own. My parents are well-known and very much loved folks who have always assumed positions of leadership within the church. Am I my parents' child? YES, most definitely!
However, while I am so grateful to God for my training and His gift of salvation, there had always been the burden of "people" expectations to contend with being the eldest child as well as the visibilty of my family in the church. Expectations that never allowed me to basically come across as a Christian who is "real".
I have gone through a personal crisis in my adult life which has caused me to become more "real" in my interactions with others - a crisis which I unfortunately had allowed to come in between my walk with God and others. The "others" have no clue as to what I have experienced but God knows and yet still loves me altogether.
My clarion call to Christian parents is to be careful when setting expectation too high for their children. I have had many conversations with parents who are experiencing challenges with their "problem" or "prodigal" children but even those children who may seem to have it all together or basically "perfect" need the same amount of prayer - or even moreso. The Enemy is constantly prowling about to see who he may devour.
Remember, none of us is perfect but we are kept by God's awesome grace and mercy. And that is soo REAL! Praise God!!
Thank God for your obedience, I'm a widow of a 9yr.old. I spent most of my morning, seeking the face of God regarding changing my major in school and this is just confirmation. I know that what we do for Christ will last, what we make happen for somebody else God will make happen for us. I know that as I tran my daughter up in the way she should go and living a Godly life before her, I trust that my surrender to God and yielding my path, desires, aspirations unto Him, instead of my plan will make an impact on my daughter to do the same.
God Bless,
wat can i say ,dis was my prayer dis morning .am a mother of 15month old baby girl ,i often wonder would i do a good job of it ,but i tank God for women like u who ve done so and can confidently say u had Gods help .i can heave a sign of relief tanx alot
I appreciate what was said, especially the statement " only what you do for Christ will last". How often we forget that or should I say "I" forget that. My place of worship recently celebrated 25 years of holy convocation, as well as our pastor's 25 years of
service. We always have a theme for the convocation. However, this year the Lord intervened to remind us that its not about us its about him. Therefore, to say only what we do for Christ will last, is on point. As Christians that should always be our focus, whether raising our children, participating in a church function or being a wife/daughter/sister. Only what we do for Christ will last because its all about him and not you or me. God Bless.
I appreciate this blog. I am the 24 year old daughter of a faithful woman of God. She trained us and loved us to love the Lord. In some of us she has seen the fruits of her labor. In others she is still waiting for the manifestation. I admit that it is not easy being a child of God on a college campus, but it is not impossible. Since you have taught her, be at peace and trust God for the plans he has for her life. There are so many in need of healings from their hurts and suffering and I praise God for those who choose to get right in the middle of those circumstances and people and address those circumstances in such a way that the people understand that though I am in this world, I am not of it and greater is He that is in me than He that is in the world. In December, I will graduate from a public university, and I thank God everyday, because I know it was in his plans for me. May he get all the glory as I continue to praise, serve, and worship Him all of my days.
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