“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
True Greatness What “results” do you desire to draw out of your children? Tim Kimmel described true greatness in a child as “a passionate love for Jesus Christ that shows itself in an unquenchable love and concern for others.” Can the followers in your home identify with that goal? Or would other things come to mind…grades, sports, influence…there are plenty of things that vie for “true north." The only thing worthy to be true north is our Lord and part of our responsibility is to instill that into the heart of our child. A "True North" Moment I saw a great example of this in one of our own, Ryan. After watching his son’s football team beat a tough opponent, Ryan shared that he was most proud of his son for being asked to pray at midfield after the game. The announcer said Hudson’s name many times that night, but his most noteworthy role came in the moments after the game. It Starts in Your Heart One of the reasons why this is so difficult is because we, ourselves, are lured in by the goals of this world. Notice that “the commandments” in Deuteronomy must first be in your heart and then taught to your children. The message that Christ is supremely better than everything else is not an intellectual one. Children need to see Dad getting in the lab and proving that premise daily! Sobering Advice Recently I had conversations with two wealthy clients who offered sobering advice. They both had achieved milestones that many people strive for all their life, but the sentiment that they shared was identical. The gist of their message was this: “I wish I could trade all of this for more time with my children while they were home.” Challenge Don’t let your family be guided by the world’s compass but lead them towards true north!
Caleb Crawley MD5 Facilitator