QUESTION ..."Love God, or Love Me?"

 

I was driving in Houston’s rare cold weather with my radio on and I heard the announcer ask an interesting question… “Would you be more upset if your Children didn’t love God, or if they didn’t love you?"  I am not sure where that question came from, but of course it made me think!  As traffic would have it, I reached my destination before hearing the conclusion, but I am sure you are answering the question in your mind right now, much like I did!  Here is where my mind went....

  

LOVING ME!

As a parent, it is unnerving to watch a movie or sitcom with an emotional child, looking at their parents  in a fit of anger as they yell “I HATE you!”   We have all seen it, and understand the devastation that is being depicted. Our hope is that it never happens to us- some of us vowing it it better not!  As parents, we want our kids to love us, we sacrifice for their good, we adjust our lives and schedules to ensure they are well, and we make life decisions with them in mind.  Sometimes we even put our plans on hold to see that their needs are met.  The LAST thing we want or expect is to be hated.   Sometimes in our attempt to get someone to love us it changes how we respond to them, and we may go outside the things we would normally do to secure that love.   As parents we can often go overboard to get our children’s love- something that should come natural. But when they reach the age (very early) where the word "NO" is introduced, things begin to feel funny.   We put up with nasty attitudes, disrespect and fits of anger.  We allow them to own things,  and do things that  are outside their ability to manage.  We don’t want to be the parent that kids hate, the house none of their friends want to enter.  Some parents end up allowing their children to break the law as long as it is in their house- but it starts habits they may never escape- all in the name of being loved. We may be inclined to attempt to ‘befriend’ our toddlers, and elementary age kids before they bloom into teenagers.  Something is wrong with that kind of parenting.  True parenting often realized that your kids may go through a phase where they don't like you, but if raised right, they eventually understand the sacrifice you made for them.  I would rather die not sure of  a child's love, rather than to live hating that I didn't have the guts to say "NO". 

   

LOVING GOD!

If I had a choice of them loving me or loving God, I would choose God.  First because His benefits last much longer than mine! If I truly love my children, I need them to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him.  If they do that, LONG after I am gone off this earth, I have invested something in them that will still be alive.  See Loving God will not only help them to live better, it will help them to love me too.  When you capture genuine love, AGAPE love,  you are holding something that is so valuable that it affects what you do.  Just like we said earlier, “Sometimes in our attempt to get someone to love us it changes how we respond to them, and we may go outside the things we would normally do to secure that love.”  And that is what God did for us, and for our children.  He left a place of glory in the form of His Son,  and came down to this earth because He loved us so.  He did something He didn’t have to do and had never done before... He died; Deity died for all creation. He drew us with loving kindness and tender mercies.   He proved His love for us, showed us His love to us, so that we in turn would love Him.  That's what any good parent does, we sacrifice...

LOVE GOD MORE!

So if I had a choice, (which I kind of do) I want my kids to love God more than they love me.  In doing that God will show them how to love others, and  how to appreciate all the things done to bring about that love to them- even the love you bring. So, don't be discouraged if your child is going through a difficult stage.  Maybe they are not appreciating you, or they are not seeming to connect with why you keep them in children's church or youth services.  They may be upset that you keep pointing them to God.  Keep introducing them to Him.  A relationship with God will help them to appreciate your sacrifices more, the long days, the late nights and the overall concern you have for them.  The older they get, the more it annoys them, but don't give up.  See if  they don't seem to love you, keep giving them Jesus.    

See benefits of  loving you may last for as long as you both shall live, 

But loving God will last into eternity!