A few months ago, I got the crazy idea to start my own business. I do not know what I was thinking. But I digress. One of my ministry mentors took me under her wing and is guiding me thru the startup. Apart from her knowledge in business, she has been a dedicated, hardworking minister’s wife for 41 years. Oh, how I love to sit at the feet of wise women. While driving to get supplies, peeling potatoes, and cutting meatloaf, I have had the opportunity just to soak in the wisdom from her experiences as a wife and mother. One pearl of wisdom she shared is too good not to share with those in the same season of life as me (which is in the whirlwind of raising kids).
“To what end?”
This is the phrase I just keep mulling over. Laurie and I were talking about raising children when she shared this statement. We talked about sports, hobbies, school, and all of the things that we involve our kids in. She shared with me that while raising her family, she and her husband always asked themselves, “What is my end goal?” Her son was an amazing baseball player and on a competitive team. But they pulled him out. It was hard for them, but it was standing in the way of their goal. Why on earth would a parent pull their child out of something in which they have extreme talent and potential?
She simply stated, “I didn’t want my son to be the greatest baseball player on earth. I wanted him to be in heaven. We had to think about this path and where it would lead my son. To what end will baseball bring?”
“Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Parents. We need to think about this and be willing to do hard things. My son/daughter participates in _____________ but to what end? Are the activities bringing glory to God, and shaping their character in Christ? Team sports and the arts are great ways to build a child’s character, and equip them with great life skills. If a child develops character in victory, loss, teamwork, and perseverance, this is a good thing, and I feel a needed thing. But, if they develop these things outside of God, and in turn never dedicate themselves to God, to what end will it bring?
I know that our children are not prodigies in football, basketball, cheerleading, academics, music, acting, etc., and the majority of them will not do these things professionally. If they did, would you want them to do these things professionally? Will the things your children participate in now bring glory to God in adulthood?
We only have 18 years to shape our children’s souls compared to eternity. We have 24 hours a day to lead them to Christ and equip them with knowledge to lead others to him. What are we filling this limited time with? Are we putting godly things on the back burner to make way for our children’s talents? Are their talents eternal?
I have an extremely athletic and talented daughter. As her parent, I want her to place God above her talent. Always.
At times, I let my pride in her talent get in the way. But I have to stay focused on my goal as her mother. I don’t want to fail my child (her brother and sister), or my Father. They are all too precious to me. I must stay focused. I want her in heaven more than that college scholarship, or the winning buzzer shot. I want the perseverance and self-control she is cultivating on the court to be used in her race to heaven bringing glory to God along the way.
Where are we leading them? To quote my friend, Kevin,
“A good thing can become a bad thing when that good thing keeps you from the best thing.”