We won’t always be within whispering distance of our children.
Does this shock any of you as it does me…?
I mean, I know my kids will grow up and leave the nest. And even though this truth is bittersweet, I really do want it to happen. My strongest desire as a mom is for them to go out into the world and become leaders, game-changers…kingdom builders.
However, with an 8 year old and an almost 10 year old–growing more independent daily, but still sweetly needing me for so much–it’s hard to imagine a day when they won’t be at my side. Right now, I’m there when they need help. I’m there when they need comfort. And I’m there to set boundaries and teach them everything I think they need to know. But that won’t always be.
Leaving the Nest
So, what is a mama to do? As they grow up, they’ll be out on their own more and more. They’ll need to practice independence long before they start their adult lives. As they head out into this world, who will be there when they’re faced with difficult decisions; when they have in-the-moment needs for wisdom, discernment, or comforting?
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; (John 14:16 NASB)
If our children are in Christ, He promises that they have a Helper in the Holy Spirit, and that He will be with them forever. It brings me great comfort to know that my children will always have the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit, wherever their lives take them. Jesus goes further to say that the Helper, the Holy Spirit, will teach us all things, and bring God’s word to our remembrance (John 14:26). How cool is that? However, as moms, we do have a part to play in this. In order for the Spirit to bring God’s word to our children’s remembrance, we need to help them hide His word to begin with. Then He will have something to reveal to them when they need His guidance.
Memorizing Scripture to Prepare for Independence
I attended a wonderful convention recently. One of the speakers encouraged parents to help their children memorize scripture. She shared several examples of how her adult children were equipped to make important decisions because of scripture they had memorized as small children. She told of her daughter meeting a boy that she was interested in. He had an angry meltdown in front of her, and all she could think was “You shall not go with a hot-tempered man” (Proverbs 22:24). Because the Spirit brought this verse to her remembrance, the speaker’s daughter was able to make a wise choice in her personal life.
This, friends, is what I desire for my kids as they grow and become more independent. I want to present them with a gift that no one can take away. I want to give them a heart library of scripture, engraved on their very souls. Scripture so deeply treasured that they can’t help but hear the voice of the Spirit when He brings it to mind. Words from their Lord, guiding them with the wisdom and discernment that can only come from Him.
Have you seen the Holy Spirit bear fruit in your children as a result of hiding His word? Please share your story in the comments!
This guest post is written by Katie Johnson (@KJ_Clem on Twitter). Katie is a wife, homeschooling mom of two, and wannabe farm girl who lives in the South Carolina foothills. She’s learning what it looks like to love God, learn His ways, and lead others to do the same. She takes photos of sunsets, lives in flip flops, and gives too many treats to her backyard chickens. Connect with her on Twitter.
Katie, great words here. It can be so hard to let go, but we’re raising them to be kingdom builders, just as you said. I love the example you shared of how memorized Scripture lingers and directs, even years later. So inspiring! Glad to have your words here!
Thank you for having me! The truths God shares with us about His Spirit and His presence are what replace my fear of the unknown with hope!
Katie, thank you for sharing this good word with us today! My children are grown, but I want to help my grandkids hide God’s Word in their hearts!
What a wonderful legacy to pass down the generations, Kathy!
I love this Katie. Having the truth in the hearts and minds of our kids gives us confidence as they begin to step out in independence. As I get ready to launch my first, I am so thankful that God and His word will go with her, even when I am FAR out of whispering distance!
We can have such confidence knowing that God and His word will never leave them nor forsake them! Thanks for your comment! :)
Katie, you are touching the heart of what it is to grow spiritual champions. With God’s gift of free will to each person, even our best and noblest efforts are not guaranteed of success. However, God only asks us as parents to be faithful in our godly nurture of our children. What they choose as they grow becomes the beginning of their personal story with Him. It’s a big challenge to continue to love and honor them when they choose counter to what we’ve taught them, but by God’s grace we can bear even that burden.
To be “faithful in our godly nurture of our children”…that’s it in a nutshell! Such a worthwhile effort. As parents, we can have no greater joy than to hear that our own kiddos are walking in the truth! (3 John 1:4)
Love this:
“I want to give them a heart library of scripture, engraved on their very souls.”
It’s been very encouraging to me to hear my 18-yr-old daughter bring up scriptures that I had her memorize when she was much younger. Granted, she has a great memory anyway, but still. :-) If we can help put it in at a young age, they’ll have it to retrieve later. Thanks for sharing this, Katie!
It’s wonderful to know that you’re seeing fruit from scripture memory, Lisa! Such a blessing for you, I know!
We have a 7-year-old son and are doing everything we can to give him the foundation he needs to succeed in his faith. I’d like to recommend a book I just started reading that I’m very excited about by Dr. Tony Evans called “Raising Kingdom Kids: Giving Your Child a Living Faith.” He says, “It’s far easier to SHAPE A CHILD than to REPAIR AN ADULT. Raising kids who recognize and retain their identity as children of the King launches healthy adults who have the capacity to stand strong in their faith.” One of my favorite quotes is simply, “Instructing your children in the Lord means spending time with them so they can see how you live out the gospel.” There are free downloadable samples on his website. I highly recommend it! http://www.raisingkingdomkids.com