Disclaimer: I know this is cheesy, but I have been thinking a lot about how hard it is going to be to raise my children well when they are finally here. It is so easy to get caught up in the American lifestyle and I have been stressing about how to raise them in this lifestyle and still serve God well. So, I decided to write them this letter. I decided to post it on here because I'm hoping that one day I will still have this blog and I can just pull this up and show it to them. The idea of my printing it out and knowing where it is in 15 years is comical.
"Ive been thinking about raising you lately. It kind of stresses me out. Raising you well comes with a huge burden. I want you to follow Christ. (Not the kind of following where you just got to church on Sundays, but really really follow Him.) I want Him to be the most important thing to you. I want you to grow up and be godly men and women who serve Him. But how am I going to teach that to you? I know I must lead by example, but I hope that you will learn from my mistakes instead of follow in them.
I don't want you to care about meaningless things in life. I don't want you to care about making the best soccer, basketball, baseball, or football team. (Let's face it, none of you have the chance of being talented dancers, you have me as your mother...although, if you were adopted by us, there is hope for you.) I don't want you to care about getting the best grades. (although the only way you are going to college is if you pay for it with scholarships, so you better get good grades) I don't want you to care about that "hot" boy/girl in high school that you wish liked you (because trust me in a few years they will most likely be bald or fat..) I don't want you to care about having the cutest clothes. I don't want you to worry about having the most friends or the most fun house to hang out at. I don't want you to care about being popular. I don't want you to gossip. (Its been a problem of your mom's in the past. We can call that one a generational sin) I don't want you to cuss. (also a problem of your moms in the past/present) I don't want you to get drunk. (again..a problem in the past...none of these are true with your father which is really annoying, but makes me feel blessed at the same time.) I don't want you to have sex until you are married and I don't want you to get pregnant before you are married. (But if you do make that mistake, know that I will not freak out and will support you in having your baby) I don't ever want you to try drugs. I don't want you to value yourself based on worldly things. I don't want you to care or worry about these things, but I know that many of these things are bound to be something that you go through during your life, and I want you to know that your dad and I will be here to love you and will try to always point you back to Christ and His Word for the right answers in life.
What I do want for you is this: I want you to know that you are loved by God. I want you to know that He loves you so much that He always forgives you for your sins. I want you to know that He is a God of mercy and grace. I want you to know that He holds no records of wrong doing. I want you to know that no matter how many hundreds of thousands of times you screw up, He will always take you back. I want you to know that He is mighty and powerful. I want you to know that He is the great physician. I want you to know that no matter how much we love you, He loves your more. I want to teach you that serving Him is all that matters. I want to teach you how to love your neighbor as yourself. I want to teach you how to love your enemies. I want to teach you how to forgive and not hold grudges. I want to teach you that serving others doesn't always make you happy, but brings you a joy that can only come from God. I want to teach you to be humble (because all the good that you do only comes from Him...trust me on this one. You have nothing to brag about.) I want to teach you that judging others is stupid when you yourself have all kinds of problems that need to be worked on. I want to teach you that serving your God first and foremost is the most important thing you can ever do.
Sweet babies, you are not being born into a fabulous world with no problems. We are told that in this world we will have lots of trouble, but to take heart because our God has overcome this world. I pray that this will resonate in you. know that we already love you. We are already praying for you. (If you are one of our adopted ones, we are already praying for you, your mom and dad.) You are PRECIOUS in His sight. You are loved beyond anything you can imagine, and we are very grateful for you. "
2 comments:
:-)
Your kids will be more than blessed to have you two as their parents.
Post a Comment