Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

Someone said the other day:

You have your Christian faith, so that means you raise your kids to be morally good kids, right?

(If you are a person of faith too, what’d be your response?)

…

To me, I feel the above sentence is … incomplete. I mean, … there’s more to that, isn’t there?.

If we are healthy, if we are smart at school, if we are safe and sound, if we manage to make good and right choices at school and at home, it is all only because of God’s grace. You see, I happened to read an article the other day on this topic, and in many ways, I felt … rebuked.

I was reminded that if our kids are morally good, but they don’t feel the need for Christ, then … they’re no different to others who place no faith in Christ.

Okay I’ll try to elaborate and explain it a little more, by sharing with you these thoughts below.

…

You see, I do hope the three children we raise become good-hearted people, adults who continually learn from life, and develop good characters too. 

Children who are polite and good to others. Appreciative and thankful for what they have. Children who tell the truth, and speak words that are not hurtful nor destructive. And so on.

I’m sure that’s the hope of all parents?

But now, the question is, should THAT be the goal of Christian families?

Well, it should NOT.

The article reminded me of exactly that.

That, raising morally good children must NOT be our goal, if we are Christian parents.
…

To add to the above, here are some thoughts that we do share with our kids from time to time:

> To be morally good people must NOT be your aim in life!

Because simply, no one can be good. 

The Bible clearly said in Romans 3:23 that no one can be right in God’s eyes, because we are sinful people, with sinful hearts, ie. Even our ‘best intentions’ tend to come with selfish motivations and thoughts.

> Mommy and Daddy are sinners too, and just like you, we struggle to do what we know is right, everyday. 

Yes, we try our best to teach you God’s ways, things that are right and good, but it does not mean Mommy and Daddy are all holy.

Mommy and Daddy depend on God’s mercy, grace and strength too, everyday. We make mistakes too, and we too seek others and God’s forgiveness.

> Right now, you need to learn to obey Mommy and Daddy, … while Mommy and Daddy learn to obey God.

It’s not easy for you and it’s not easy for us too. But one day when all of you are adults, together we all learn to obey God and seek to do God’s will everyday.

Doing what’s right and what’s moral is THE RESULT of a grateful life to God.
> We hope you always remember how you are DEPENDENT on God’s mercy everyday. 

If we are healthy, if we are smart, if we are safe and sound, if we manage to make good and right choices at school and at home, it is only because of God’s grace.

Jesus Christ had died on the cross, and because of what HE did, those who truly believe in Him are made possible to do what’s good and right in God’s eyes.

(Having said that though, of course as long as we’re still alive, it will be a continuous life struggle. It’s not easy to do what’s right, especially when so many people around us seem to go the opposite direction)

> Wanting to do what’s right and what’s moral is THE RESULT of a grateful life to God.

It’s like, we must learn to LOVE and care for others, because we have firstly received LOVE and CARE from God.
…


Errr … not easy, is it?

(well, at least I think so. Being the kind of parent God wants me to be is TOUGH)

But then I tell myself : However hard it is, it is not impossible, if God is the One who strengthens and enables me.

So.

Here’s to all parents of faith out there : May God help and strengthen us everyday, to carry out our parenting responsibilities, and to strive to be the kind of parents God wants us to be.

JIA YO! =)

Have a wonderful and blessed week ahead, everyone!