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Maximizing Motherhood
Discipling Children
by Maureen Pearson (Maureen's bio)
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Before I had children, I was very involved in women's ministry in my church. I enjoyed the Bible studies, times of fellowship and the one-on-one discipleship and mentoring. When children came into my life, I remembered what an older Christian woman once said to me: “My children are my number one disciples.”
As a parent, I found myself tearing out articles from magazines on parenting and praying for ones' children. I took notes at church and women's meetings when the discussion turned to what to pray and how to pray for our children. I wanted to know how to lead my children to Christ.
When my children were infants, I prayed with them and over them daily. My prayers were specific. “May she make a profession of faith before she enters kindergarten.”
My prayers were Scriptural: “May she hide your word in her heart so that she might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11 NIV). Some have been answered. Some, like the prayers for godly husbands, won't be answered for many years.
I've noticed that as my prayers have changed according to my child's development, our prayer times have changed. Once a lukewarm listener, she is now involved and bringing her own requests to her heavenly Father.
Recently, my eldest daughter came to me to ask that I pray that she doesn't get chicken pox from a fever she had been battling. She prays for the safety of a classmate who doesn't wear a seatbelt. And on January 5, she prayed to ask Jesus come into her heart and be her Savior. That was one of my answered prayers.
Getting to that decision with my daughter was a process. I include her in my devotions and read with her. I choose praise and worship CDs and cassettes for her to listen to. I guide her into a time with God. Whether or not I'm around, I want my children to learn how to have and develop their relationship with God.
My eldest daughter has committed about a dozen Bible verses to memory. My goal this summer is to teach her the 10 Commandments and their significance.
But as someone once said, “more is caught than taught.” I have to show my children that my faith is authentic. That comes about in my words, actions and attitudes toward her, my husband, our friends and my involvement at church.
Discipleship is also a sacrifice. For me, it means taking time to sit with her and review memory verses. It means including her in my devotions or setting her up with her Bible and encouraging her to have her own time with God. It means watching more closely what I say and do because little eyes and ears are watching and listening and imitating.
Copyright 2002, Maureen Pearson. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.
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About Maureen Pearson: I am an at-home mother of two children and freelancer for The Tampa Tribune (daily newspaper). Prior to motherhood, I worked in "corporate America" as a mid-level manager for an international research and development organization. My communications background includes media relations, various business publications and broadcast news. While in my 20s, I made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ. My heart's desire is to show others the love of God available to us through His Son. My family and I are active members of Presbyterian Church in the Highlands, Lakeland, Florida. I've facilitated a number of small group studies for women focused on Bible study, prayer and learning God's will. E-mail Maureen |
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