The things that matter....

I found the following questions very insightful in figuring out what really matters...

How would you answer them?

(Excerpted from God’s Grand Vision for the Home by Dr. Rob Rienow.)

When your son or daughter leaves your home someday, which one of the following would you want most for them?

a) To be successful academically
b) To be successful athletically
c) To be successful socially
d) To be a person of faith and character

Personally, I would like to have another option, “e) All of the above.” But if you could only have one, which one would you choose? You most likely said that faith and character are most important. At least it seems like the “right answer.”

Let me change the question a bit. Which of the following parenting issues gets the best of your time, effort, money, anxiety, and planning?

a) Academics
b) Athletics
c) Social life
d) Faith and character development

If you had to rank them in order of the amount of time, money, and effort that goes into each one, what would come out on top? What would come out on the bottom? I asked myself these questions in my role as a father, and the answers were challenging. The thing that I claimed was most important to me — the faith and character development of my children — was often at the bottom of my actual priority list.

Let’s imagine that all of my children turn out to be smart, athletic, popular, polite and hardworking. It would seem that they would be poised for all the success the world has to offer. But what if they didn’t love God, and know His plan for their lives? Most importantly of all, what if they don’t get safely home to heaven?

There is nothing wrong with being great at sports, getting good grades, or being well-liked. The danger is that if these things become our focus, we can completely miss the things that truly matter.

 As I've mentioned before, Chandler and Brighton are both participating in AWANA this year.

We are so fortunate that we have this program for the boys.  They have a great time and are learning about God's word while having fun.  They attend on Wednesday nights.  Brighton is in the "Puggles" group and will have a chance to earn a vest in "Cubbies" next year.  His uniform will be a yellow t-shirt, which he will love since it's his favorite color.

Chandler is in his second year of Cubbies this year and is working hard to earn the rest of his badges.  This year is harder for him because he has to memorize the verse and the scripture reference.  We are so proud that our boys are in this program and that they love learning about God.  Keep up the good work!