Parenting isn't easy! Fathers and mothers have a never-ending weekly "to do list" of job, housework, yard work, meals, laundry, grocery shopping, homework, soccer games, changing diapers, and squeezing in some "me time" (whatever that is!). On top of this stack your responsibilities of marriage and a zillion weekly tasks. Then next week you repeat the insanity all over again!
As parents we also provide for our children's physical security with food, clothing, etc. "For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children" (1 Corinthians 12:14). Importantly, we provide for their emotional security. "Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged" (NKJV) or "they may lose heart" (NRSV).
Yet, our greatest parent-duty is to provide for our children's spiritual security. "Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4).
With all our parental busyness and burnout, how can we find more time in our chaotic week to spiritually teach our children?
Inside of your child exists an eternal soul. We are only given their childhood, and perhaps teenage years, to cement the spiritual training that must last them for a lifetime! After their life ends, each of our children's souls will stand before God in the Judgment Day. It's never too early to ponder the question, "Will my child/children spend eternity in Heaven or Hell?"
That one "thought" ought to both delight and haunt every parent!
Both God and religion experts inform us that a child's religion will equal their parent's religious practices, especially their father's example. If both father and mother attend church and love/serve God, a higher percent of their children will grow up to be adults who attend church and love/serve God. The opposite is chillingly true!
Therefore, in the center of our frenzied lives, how can we NOT take the time to help our children to know God? We can take them to Bible class and worship. We can talk to them about God and the Bible, "when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up" (Deuteronomy 6:9). We can use home time together to let them "see" daddy and mommy's love and obedience to God. We can by our words and deeds help our children to believe "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15).
So as parents, you and I may be the greatest reason our child's soul will spend eternity in Heaven or Hell. God has given us a lifetime to ready our child's soul for eternity. Are YOU preparing YOUR child?
"Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).