My kudos to parents.

You all do so much, and sometimes it seems all you do is smothered by society/culture and the kids that you’ve raised to walk a certain path, deviate and go their own way.

Someday I’m going to be a parent. (don’t worry, nothing we know of yet 🙂 But someday. How to raise a child? How to influence that child towards Christ…..How to discipline that child…..how to let go of that child….I can’t imagine how tough it must be. But I’m beginning to imagine.

We (all of us) are raising a group of children who see nothing beyond their own good. Looking out for themselves, benefitting themselves, and “getting mine” is their mentality. Am I being pessimistic? Nope. I realize that there are good ones out there. There are people who think of others’ needs first. But overall….I’m seeing way too many who think this world is here for their enjoyment.

And why should they think any different?

It’s what we believe, right? You get home from work/school, what’s the first thought in your mind? “What can I do tonight that I would enjoy?” Perhaps your different from me, if so….congrats. But my mind is wired selfishly. But thankfully it doesn’t stop there. We can act and think with a purpose. Our moments of indecision don’t have to be spent contemplating what we can do that we will enjoy, but rather, what can we do to help someone. What if that was really our first thought? What if our natural goal became to be there for others as much as possible? (still taking care of ourselves as individuals, I realize we all need “down time”) But what if?

Eventually, we would naturally raise a generation of children who naturally see each day as another opportunity to find a need and fill it. To watch out for friends and family. To be last in line. To compliment each other, and build each other up according to their needs. To LOVE as Christ loved. I still think it’s possible….and I think that’s the mindset I would love to instill in my children. But if I’m going to teach it to them, I need to make it come natural to me. Thankfully, I’ve got some time to practice. We’re not “expecting” yet…..and even if we were….9 months…and then some.

So how about you? Will you help contribute to the world my children grow up in? Will you be an example of thinking outside yourself? Will you show my children how to love? Thanks in advance.