And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (Deu 6:7)

As Christian parents one of the greatest responsibilities given to us is the spiritual training of our children.   I realize that God ultimately holds my husband accountable for the family but my role as his wife is to come along beside him in the training of our children.  I’m to be his help meet in all areas including our children’s spiritual upbringing.  Giving our children a Christian education or making sure they are at church each Sunday will not be enough.  Many children who do not see the Christian faith lived out daily will not be grounded in sound doctrine; they will be tossed to and fro and carried away. (Eph 4:14)  These children will grow up resenting their Christian heritage.  Instead of looking to Christ as their supreme example they will use the hypocrisy of others as a stumbling block.  As a mother it is imperative that our children see our faith as real.  If we tell them to honor their parents yet we speak dishonoring of our own parents we are hurting our children’s faith.  If we tell them to love their brothers and sisters, yet they hear us talking in a negative light about our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are hurting our children’s faith.  If we tell our children that we should submit to Christ, yet they do not see us submissive to our husbands, we are hurting our children’s faith. If we tell our children that going to church is important yet they see us make excuses for our unfaithfulness, we are hurting our children’s faith.  If we tell them to forgive others yet we hold grudges in our own hearts, we are hurting our children’s faith.  If we tell them to respect authority yet we have a rebellious attitude toward those in authority we are hurting our children’s faith.  Being a mother comes with a lot of responsibility.  Being a Christian mother comes with even more.  So, how do we live out a life of faith so that we will point our children to Christ?  Deuteronomy 6:7 states that we are to be constantly teaching our children God’s law.  We should teach it to them when we get up, throughout the day, when we go to bed –  all the time.  In other words, teaching our children the ways of God should be a lifestyle.  A mother has many teachable moments with her children.  We can tell our children that we should pray for others but when we show our children they are impacted greater.  Many years ago when Aaron was very young we taught him that when an ambulance or fire truck passed us on the road we should pray for all the people involved.  Now, it has become a habit within our family.  We pray that God will watch over the workers, bless those who are hurt and most importantly that God will use the situation to draw people to Him.  This is a small teachable moment.  Several months ago after praying for an ambulance, our children later learned that they had been praying for Johnny and Barbara after their car accident.  God used this simple act of prayer to encourage and strengthen our family.  If we will look around with a pure heart we can see God in every moment of our day.  Then as we take those moments and teach our children, showing them God’s Word and living it out, our children will be pointed in the right direction and our homes will be homes of peace, joy and love.

Dearest Daughter,

One of the highest callings in life is that of a mother.  It comes with great joy and incredible responsibilities.  When God gave you to me, He gave me a most precious gift.  You are a joy and delight.  When you smile your sweet countenance spreads light throughout the room.  You can but laugh and turn sorrow into joy.  You are a treasure and your calm disposition brings peace to our home.  I realize that I only have a few years in which to teach and train you to become a virtuous young lady of highest character but that is my desire.  Daughter, there are many things I want you to know.  First of all know that I love your father.  Next to Christ he is my dearest friend.  Every night as I pray for you, my prayer is that someday God will bring a godly young man into your life that is just like your father.   I pray you discover early on in your marriage your God given role as wife and that you will embrace it with joy.  Secondly, I want you to know that children are a blessing from God.  In today’s society children seem to be nothing more than a burden to many in which to cast off on someone else.  You and your brothers are a joy and I thank God daily for each of you.  I praise Him for the opportunity that He has given your father and me to raise you.  I want you to know that we will do our best to raise you not by the world’s standards but by God’s standards alone.  The world says you must be beautiful on the outside; that your value is based on how you look and dress.  God says that your value is based on who you are.  True beauty comes from within and God’s standard is one of purity.  I want you to know that the most important thing in this life is relationships, first and foremost, your relationship with God.  Only in Christ will you find complete fulfillment.  Your life will be void if you look to any other.  Secondly is your relationship with others.  Never miss opportunities to love your family, to build and cultivate friendships and to reach out with kindness to strangers.  For it is in loving and serving others that Christ will be glorified.  Finally, I want you to know that no matter what stage of life you are in and no matter what you find yourself doing, make sure that it is for God’s glory.  If you’re being educated, learn with the desire to use your gifts to please God.  If you’re working, whatsoever your hands find to do, do all for the glory of God.  If you’re serving others, do it to point others to Christ.  Remember, you have purpose, no matter your age or station in life God has a plan.  Seek Him with your whole heart and your life will be complete.  You will have joy unspeakable.   Know that I will make mistakes and sometimes fail you but I pray with all my heart that my words and actions as your mother are that in which you can look to as a godly example.

I love you daughter.

Your mother