Would I be a Christian if it were not for my parents?
I ask this question because I have heard some parents say they don’t plan to talk with their children about Jesus. Instead, they want their children to decide for themselves. However, Proverbs 22:6 clearly states that we are to “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
The reality is, if we are not talking to our children about Jesus, then the likelihood that someone else will, is low. The world is not designed to lead a person to Christ. Instead, it entices a person toward sin and temptation. The worldly lifestyle is a Godless lifestyle, and that is no way of living.
I am thankful that my parents and my grandparents were Christians and, each in their own way, showed me that Jesus is the only way to heaven. I am thankful that I saw my grandfather reading his Bible every day. I often saw him go to church several times a week too. He volunteered to help build an addition on to the church, and he modeled The Way by how he loved his family and friends. I am thankful that I witnessed my mother praying with a rosary almost daily. I saw her heart yearn for protection over our family. I am thankful that we went to church each Sunday as a family. Even on days when life was busy and we were being called towards other obligations, we always made it a priority to go to church. I also heard that my father was baptized in Vietnam during the war. I am all around thankful that I was introduced to Christ by my family and that I witnessed them take their faith seriously.
In high school, I had a teacher at my Catholic girl’s school tell me that the Bible was not all true. I have to admit, that rocked my faith a bit. I went home to tell my mother what I had heard, and she immediately took me to the priest at our church. He explained what had happened in theological terms, and I went on my way, still unsure of what had transpired.
It wasn’t until college, at a local Christian university, that my faith firmed up again. God works in mysterious ways. I was enrolled in a World Religion class where I was studying the Bible, Torah, Quran, and the Bhagavad Gita. What proved the Bible was true to me, beyond a shadow of a doubt, was that other religious texts included similar events, such as Noah’s flood. The historical events that we know are true are written in each of these texts as real events that took place. Other texts talk about a prophet, and all of the texts claim that their savior was the only way. However, only the Bible has proof that the true Messiah came to earth, died, and rose again. Jesus is the only savior that is still living. All of the others died – end of story.
As a parent, I believe the most important thing for me to do is to encourage my children and grandchildren to love Jesus. If I fail at this job, they will spend eternity in hell, and that is not where I want my loved ones to be. This responsibility to influence our family to be Christian is a job that I take very seriously, are you?
I am so grateful that my family put me in Christian schools, provided Christian education, and modeled a Christian life for me. I am glad that I got to witness them going through hard times and praying. I am glad that we pray as a family at mealtimes every day and at bedtime each night. I can’t imagine going through life without Christ. We have faced some hard times, and each time we fall to our knees and look up to heaven.
Romans 12:2 states, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” A good indication of if we are doing our job as parents is if we are doing things differently from others.
I’m not a perfect Christian. None of my family and none of my friends are perfect Christians. There is no such thing. Only Jesus was perfect. However, we are trying our best to bring as many people we possibly can to heaven with us.
This month we are counting our blessings and positioning our attitude toward gratitude. How are you thankful for your parents today?
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