Priorities

Is there anything that should be more important to us than to be the best parents we can be as we serve God? We often underestimate the value of being a Christ following parent who keeps his children as the focus of his greatest work and gift to God. Sometimes I catch myself thinking about how much energy I am using in student ministry, leadership, thinking, and in the church that I have to remind myself that my kids deserve so much more of me. Running myself into the ground and giving everything I have for God that I ignore the needs of my kid or neglect them in the process does NOT come from God or will ever be excusable. 

Being a dad and raising incredible kids is just as much of a stewardship and gift from God as it is to lead a ministry or shepherd a church. The reality is that while we are parenting our kids we are instilling in them an impression of who God is. Is God too busy? Is he impatient? Aloof? Unresponsive? Unkind? Unloving? Absent? Obviously not. Believe me when I say that if that is how we lead our home the price will be too high for us to pay in the end some day. If you've found yourself in a place where you do not know who you are as a parent anymore you need to ask yourself some serious questions. Be honest with your employer. Bring accountability in your life and ask them to weekly ask you how much time you spent with your kids, spouse, and not just that but also what you did. If you think God will not ask you what you did with your kids as a parent you are gravely mistaken.