The One Thing That Matters: A Child's Perspective

To all the parents out there I know what you need to do! No, I am not a parent so you are probably wondering how I could have anything of value to tell you (who is much more experienced). Well, I can because I still have the perspective of your children. I know what we need from our parents and I can articulate it much better at this stage in life than I could when I was still living with my mom and dad. 

So...what you need to do is NOT show them YOUR love. Sadly, your love has limits. Unfortunately, you can only show your love based on how others have loved you. Your love, I hate to say, is impure, tattered, and weathered due to living in a world of trouble and hatred. There is good news though and I know exactly what your child needs. It's the exact thing my parents gave me that I can not wait to pass on to my children. It is so special, in fact, that I even realize how messed up I would be had my parents not given me such a gift...

I had a bad day today. A very bad day. It started with frustration, built to sadness and anger, and ended with tears. I looked around at the areas of my life and I couldn't help but feeling like a failure in every one of them. My joy was gone and my peace was missing in action.  I was left with sadness, despair, and oppression. (Pretty depressing, right?) Finally, after a day of trying to repair it myself I called my parents hoping to get some love and affection from them. Instead, God used them to show me His love and affection. They acted in love, but it wasn't their love that I first noticed. When my mom was feeding me scripture and my dad was reading me the lyrics to "Your Love Never Fails" I was overwhelmed with love. They continued reminding me about the authority I have over the enemy, pouring more scripture into my spirit, and divulging wisdom beyond even their years. I was constantly crying the whole time, but when I finally got off the phone they had shown me once again the one important thing in life. Christ.

Throughout my life my parents have given me such a gift. This gift was constantly showing me Christ. Always acting through His love, not their own. Always turning my every problem to the one who could answer it. My parents never acted like they had all the answers, but they were so quick to show me the one who did. When I failed them, they reminded me that more importantly I had failed the Lord. I grew up knowing that even though my parents' love was great and their approval was wonderful, that wasn't of the utmost importance. It was only God, his love, His forgiveness, and His Grace. I did not have to be perfect because Jesus had died for me, but I better give it my full effort. 

I am in awe at the ability of my parents to show me such love. I know now that without God that would not be possible. If they had not experienced God's love in their life they would not have been able to give me such a gift! Now, don't get me wrong people! Your love is great and children NEED it, but when you try to do this by your own will there will always be something missing. Once you reach out and find the Love of God you will be able to give something to your children that will outlast generations. It will touch them in a way that no material gift ever will. I have a relationship with Christ and I know so many valuable things only because my parents were obedient to follow God! They would put their feelings aside many times to remind me that it was God's feelings that were most important. BUT, it was through that I realized how important their feelings/opinions were! Since they pointed me to God, He was able to show me their value and worth. He showed me that I need to honor and obey them. He showed me that they are in my life to mold me into the woman of God that He intended me to be. It was no accident that I was given to them, I need to respect them. 

Tonight I go to bed feeling empowered! Not because my parents gave me some inspirational speech (that's a load of poo). Instead, I am empowered because of the Holy Spirit! It is because after I got off the phone with my parents, I prayed. Yes, that is right. I talked to my heavenly parent. I cried out to Him and once again He reminded me that without my earthly parents I might not be going to bed feeling so great. That maybe, just maybe, my parents would not have turned me to God and  I would be on my way to an eternity separated from every form of love....even the most obscure.

THANK YOU MOM AND DAD!! AND THANK YOU GOD FOR GIVING THEM TO ME!!

LISTEN!!!!!!