I was standing there, singing my heart out to the Lord, and then I felt it. It was soft and little, but it added to my thankfulness and praise. Ysabella who is 6 was worshiping beside me and as her hand rose in worship to the Lord, it brushed up against my arm. We were singing a song that is very familiar to us as a family. Countless moments of worship have taken place in our living room as we blasted Kim Walker singing, "How He Loves Us". It was a natural response for both Gabriella and Ysabella to do the same at church. Since that moment, I have felt so burdened with the blog you are now reading. I write it as a tremendously flawed mother, who has the potential to blow it at least twice daily. I have found there is a masterpiece in the making, when this flawed wife and mother, comes broken and longing to love Jesus loudly with my every potential, even the ones that will cause eruptions of disappointment and frustration. My prayer is that if you are reading this, you are able to do the same. Don't walk away angry or annoyed, I didn't make you read this blog. These are things that the Lord has placed on my heart and my prayer is that He who placed them there will use them for Himself.
Picture the scene above, a mother and her two daughters worshiping Jesus with a hunger and passion. Is that not the nucleus of parenting. As parents we get the opportunity to live out lives of passionate praise, and pray that our children will follow. What a sorrowful reality that so many of us parent with wasted passion. We make sure our children are involved in as many activities as we can squeeze into our already exhausted schedules. Travel ball, t-ball, dance, cheer, football, karate, gymnastics, basketball, summer art lessons, and the list goes on. We will make it to every practice, every game, and even work together in the back yard. We expend our lives and time on things that hold no eternal significance. We want our children to be the best, to have every opportunity to show out. Is this our idea of developing humility? It seems more like the ingredients of pride and self absorbance. If we really believed what the Bible says, would we even want our children to be sports stars? Why would our desires be for them to have all the riches and fame this life can offer, only to lose their souls. So many families will be at the ball park, dance recitals, all of it, and yet find it a challenge to make it to church casually if at all. If we are honest, can we say that we even have a conversation about the Lord with our children at least once a day. What a heart break. You may tell your children that Jesus is Lord, but your life lives out the worship to the many idols that have taken the thrown of your heart. Your children will struggle no less to surrender all to Jesus.
And I will continue, only to surely lose a few friends over what is coming out next. Our Pastor, has been very straight forward and to the point when it comes to how women dress in church. Yet, it seems like everyone is saying amen with their boobs hanging out and their thighs singing, "Alleluia, we got the light we got the light!" Perhaps a women needs to speak up. Maybe a lot of us need to speak up. My husband came home from church one Sunday, so upset because while leaving Bible study, everywhere his eyes went there were breast just bulging. He even saw a nipple hanging out. Yes, I had to write the word nipple in a blog. What a heartbreak that our husbands have to struggle so greatly in a house of worship, because women care more about themselves. On more than one occasion, I have been in the parking lot with my daughters and received a show of under panties, as the wind gentle lifted the dress that was just barely covering them to begin with. Clothing that draws attention to the size of your breast and the curve of your thigh...... REALLY? And we claim to be coming to church to bring praise to Jesus. I think our attire is evidence of a heart that seeks the praise of men. I often feel embarrassed for the clothing that the young girls wear. My eight and six year old daughters are often appalled. How can we just allow our daughters to desire the second look of men, when they have the eternal gaze of the Lord. We raise these beautiful little girls up to care more about the attention of others than about having a modest heart and godly righteousness. As mothers and fathers, it is our duty to live different than the world. If everyone on television is wearing it, I might suggest we consider whose standards we are living by. If the space between your breast is visible, you need to cover it up. If you can not bend over and touch your toes without your bottoms showing, word flash TOO SHORT!. The thighs and the upper back are areas that men find "sexy", so don't show them to anyone but your husband. And train your daughters to love and honor their future husbands, by saving some of the mystery and beauty God designed their bodies with. I'm not talking about adding a strap, I am saying-where are the sleeves? I even see little girls, 3 and 4 years old now in spaghetti straps, one strap, strapless, and tight shirts and dresses. Come on this is craziness! What will they wear on their wedding night? I mean if we walk around daily in lingerie?
I am burdened because if the church is struggling with the allegiance of our hearts, then what do we offer a world that is so hurting. There is so much suffering and death and yet the church is waddling through with half hearted worship and caring more about drawing attention to themselves than the Jesus who they claim to love. When will we parent with the realization that it can impact the eternal destination of these treasures we have been allowed to raise. When will we show with our time, scheldules, wardrobe, and worship that Jesus is that treasure in the field. If you remember, the man who found the treasure, he sold it all so that he could obtain it.
A Mommy Is
My Christmas gift from Todd, one of his students painted it.
