“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.” Revelations 3:15-16
…and it burns this mom’s heart.
When my kids were growing up, (my youngest is still ten) I did what I thought I was supposed to do. I brought them to church every Sunday, enrolled them in a good Catholic school and encouraged them to participate in other stewardship opportunities.
I thought that spiritual formation was sort of like getting a suntan: slow exposure over a long period would result in a nice sun kissed glow.
Basically, I depended on someone else to do this for me and the job wasn’t done correctly or completely.
That’s where my sin is.
I still fear the consequences are going to be more than I want to know. However, God has shown me, in some merciful ways, that just as with every mistake I’ve made in mothering, this one can also be turned over to Him with a repentant heart and He forgives me. Acknowledging His grace has been the first step in transforming my guilt.
Now that I have been more convicted and shown the error of my ways, my younger children are getting a “hotter” version of their mother. In fact, I loved it when one of my kids recently told my husband and I,
“You guys have a serious Jesus issue.”
Why yes we do, dear. Jesus is the biggest “issue” of our lives. He directs everything we do, everything we plan and how we view the world. It’s one “issue” we will never take lightly and for granted again, thanks be to God. I am so thankful to have this Jesus issue. It’s going to be an issue forever. It’s okay. Our kids are getting used to it.
We’ve given them a warning: It’s getting hotter over here at the Helgemo house. And it’s not because it’s summer time in South Florida.
Have you ever felt convicted to do a better job working on the spiritual formation of your children?
What have you done to radically change your family’s approach?
Do you have any special tips to share with other parents that have produced good fruit?
