Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Win the souls of your children




The season of raising two young boys is long past for me. My boys have become young men. The older one is now a husband to a lovely lady who is a beautiful addition to our family. I look at this photo and wonder where the time went.

While my boys are grown and our family looks much different, the photo remains one of my favorites. It sits in my office and many times I find myself staring at it lost in the memories. There are days I miss the season of having young ones under my care. I tease my husband and tell him maybe it's time to adopt. Adopting is a God-sized dream residing deep in my heart.

The photo brings back memories of doing everything I could to make sure my two boys knew they were loved.

What you do not see in this picture is the brokenness of my family during that season. We were in no way pursuing a relationship with God. My marriage was hanging on by a thread. I can look beyond this picture of innocence and see tempers flying and hearts being broken.

Then I look again and find God's grace. Somewhere in the midst of it all He was there. I can now look at this photo and see how God was present. I wonder how I missed Him for so many years. How did I not feel His spirit within me? Through the tempers and broken hearts there was one thing He was sure to place on my heart.

Love your children.

Mistakes were made and harsh words were said but in the end I always made sure my boys knew they were loved.

Prayers were not said and devotionals were not read but in the end I always made sure my boys knew they were loved.

This picture remains a favorite because the look on their faces tells me they knew how much they were loved. I thought I was far from God but He was always near. He had impressed something important on my heart.

Love your children.

Dr. Rob Rienow of Visionary Family Ministries was recently a guest speaker at my church. He shared a scary statistic of how 75% of children leave their faith when they become adults. My two boys were not raised in the church so they did not have a faith to leave. Dr. Rienow's message was one that encouraged me to always be praying. It's never too late to win the souls of our children. God won mine at the age of 42—it's never too late.

God used this photo to bless me in a new way. I see the precious innocence of my boys and find God's grace. I see how God shows up among our messy and imperfect lives. 

I'm reminded to hold on to hope.

"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."  ~ Romans 5:5 (NIV)

Even in my unbelief He had not given up on me. He was still there showing me how to love my children. Oh, how my heart begins beating with a renewed excitement over what He will do now that I do believe.

It is never too late to win the souls of our children.


31 comments :

  1. This is beautiful, Beth! It can be hard sometimes to revisit our regrets. And so lovely to look back and see God's grace! I'm the one who wrote about perfectionism and learning to accept the fact that things are perfectly imperfect. We aren't perfect Mom's or wives or daughters of the King, but His love covers it all. So powerful!

    Christy @ A Heartening Life
    www.ahearteninglife.com

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    1. Thank you for stopping by Christy. It is hard to revisit our regrets, but every time I do there is something He is teaching me.

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  2. Beth--giving your life to Jesus at 42. Now, that's a 'wow!' God is definitely a big God and He can call our children, too. Thanks for sharing this story.

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    2. Thanks, Jody! I pray every day for Him to win the souls of my children and will keep on praying.

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  3. Beth- THANK YOU for sharing the story behind the photo. Your story is amazing- finding Jesus at 42, loving your boys as God hovered near even when you didn't see Him... and then, just looking at that photo makes me ache and smile all at once. I am grateful that you stopped by the Overflow and led me here. You're my last stop of the night... and your words will mull in my mind as I climb into bed. Your faith radiates from the page. Blessed to have been here.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words, Alicia! I appreciate you stopping by and sharing. Blessings to you.

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  4. I just wrote on Jody's post about our visit that I would love to meet you for coffee ... any time after our May wedding.

    Fondly,
    Glenda

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    1. Thank you, Glenda. Happy to connect and look forward to meeting you after your May wedding. Blessings.

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  5. What a sweet photo!

    Making sure my children knew they were loved was perhaps the only thing I did right as a parent. Out of my three girls, only one is living for God now. I take solace that it is never too late to win the hearts of your children.

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    1. I believe making sure our children know they were loved is one of the greatest gifts we can give them. I will pray that God wins the hearts of your two daughters. Thank you for stopping by, Jerralea.

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  6. Dear Beth
    I share your heart on this one, dear one! I also raised two sons, both students at university now. They both love our Lord and that to me is my greatest reward! When you follow our Lord Jesus,,your kids are holy to Him and I firmly believe that He WILL bring them safely home!
    Blessings from Jennifer's.
    Mia

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    1. Thank you, Mia. Your comment makes me smile and keeps that feeling of hope within me. Blessings to you.

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  7. so amazing how God is always working even when we have no idea!!! You should visit my site - a local christian author wrote some very nice things about your guest post.

    http://wp.me/p3519c-ix

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    1. Thank you, Susan. Thank you too for the reminder to come back and look at comments on my guest post. Looking forward to you guest posting here!!!

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  8. Beth,
    The sincerity of your love for your boys shines through your writing! I love the point you made, that though you may have been far from God, He was never far from you. I'm sure your boys have seen...if Mom can love me this much, how much more can God above love me?! Great post...thanks for sharing friend,
    Bev

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    1. I'm hoping and praying my boys are asking that question Bev. Thank you for stopping by. Thursday's have become one of my favorite days of the week. Blessings my friend.

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  9. I love your sweet mama's heart. He redeems all, doesn't He? I have 2 grown step children that I pray, pray, pray for.... your post has filled me with hope today. Thank you. :)

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    1. I will pray for your step children too. Our God is great!!! Thank you for stopping by and sharing Lyli.

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  10. One of my faves from you, Beth. You're a great mama. Oh yes you are.

    Will carry your wise encouragement close to my heart...

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    1. Thank you so much, Kristen! You always make me smile! Blessings to you.

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  11. Oh, my. I have chills. God is good. And it's clear you have loved and do love your boy. There is so much wisdom here - I hope to soak up some of it!

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    1. Thank you, Kristin! Our God is good. I love these Thursday's together and love that we now connect beyond just these Out of the Blue Thursdays.

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  12. Beth, Beth ...

    These words: ' doing everything I could to make sure my two boys knew they were loved.'

    A beautiful legacy. Thank you.

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    1. Thank you, Jennifer! I do so appreciate you stopping by to read. (((hugs)))

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  13. Hi Beth,
    Thank you for sharing some great reminders. One encouraging story you have. Following you from Women Living Well. I'd love for you to link up with me over at www.HomeEducatorMom.com. Blessings to you Beth!

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    1. Thank you, Betty! Happy to connect and look forward to continuing to follow you. Blessings.

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  14. Hi Beth,
    Thank you for stopping by and linking up with me. I'd love it if you could join me again next week.

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  15. This is just beautiful! What a testimony to the faithfulness of our God even when we are faithless. I am so glad that I was your neighbor at Behind The Scenes. Thank you for sharing this! Amazing. Simply amazing!

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  16. Beautiful photo, Beth! I too love the pictures of my babies when they were little even though life was difficult. Thanks for sharing your heart today.

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  17. So beautiful, friend...what a great reminder to do all we can to let our precious kiddos know they are loved. SO loved. Thank you for sharing this piece of your heart...blessings! :)

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