Jesus at the Playground
"Mom! Mom! What time is church?" my fourth oldest child shouted from the playground during his big brother's baseball practice?
"What? We don't have church tonight."
"Yeah, I know. But what time is church?"
"Ben, what are you talking about? I already told you, we don't have church tonight."
"Sunday, Mom! Sunday! What time is church on Sunday?"
"Oh, 9:30. Why?"
Without answering he turned and ran towards a new friend he met on the playground and shouted, "9:30 on Sunday! Did you hear me? 9:30!"
Sigh. I love Ben, but he is my naughty boy. A professional liar, thief, and disobedient child - his motto could be Romans 7:15 "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." So, I was kind of surprised that he was inviting strangers to church. Deep down, I believe that this boy wants to be good, and sometimes by the grace of God, he pulls it off. But less than 10 minutes after we got back home, Ben was up to his nonsense again.
I'm not sure of all that transpired on the playground. I don't know what the kids were talking about before Ben started inviting them to church. But I hope they were talking about Jesus. And I certainly hope Ben's actions didn't detract from his words.
Since I homeschool my younger children, they're stuck with me all day every day. I see their strengths and their faults. I praise them and discipline them. We talk a lot. In fact, they're all quite chatty - but so am I, so it works out well. When Ben gets into trouble, we talk about Jesus. When Ben does wonderful things, we talk about Jesus. When Derik and I make decisions for our family, we talk about how Jesus influenced our decisions. Intentionally, we try to make Jesus the focus of what we do. Why do we work hard? Why are we kind when others are mean? Why do we share our money and time with others? Why do we discipline our children when it would be easier to ignore their naughty behavior? (Ben knows this answer well.)
The truth is, we will give account for all we do (and don't do). One day, I will stand before Jesus. He knows everything. I can hide nothing. He knows if I'm stingy. He knows if I selfishly decide to ignore naughty because it is easier. He knows when my heart is unkind even if my mouth doesn't speak. Ben knows I must discipline him for his naughty behavior, because if I don't, Jesus will be upset with me. Ben knows that I am not my own. Even though Mom is in charge, I'm still accountable to God.
I teach Ben, but ironically, I am also Ben to some extent. I am naughty. My nature pulls me away from God. One minute I might be witnessing to someone, the next minute I'm irritated and impatient. But I am thankful that even as God is working on my child's heart, He's also working on mine. Though I fail and am flawed, it shouldn't stop me from talking about Jesus. Daily we should live to honor Christ, to share the Good News, and to have relationship with others. Ben makes friends easily. God has put many opportunities before Him. We should not shy away from opportunities to share Jesus - even on the playground. Because like Paul we should not be "ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16)
"What? We don't have church tonight."
"Yeah, I know. But what time is church?"
"Ben, what are you talking about? I already told you, we don't have church tonight."
"Sunday, Mom! Sunday! What time is church on Sunday?"
"Oh, 9:30. Why?"
Without answering he turned and ran towards a new friend he met on the playground and shouted, "9:30 on Sunday! Did you hear me? 9:30!"
Sigh. I love Ben, but he is my naughty boy. A professional liar, thief, and disobedient child - his motto could be Romans 7:15 "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." So, I was kind of surprised that he was inviting strangers to church. Deep down, I believe that this boy wants to be good, and sometimes by the grace of God, he pulls it off. But less than 10 minutes after we got back home, Ben was up to his nonsense again.
I'm not sure of all that transpired on the playground. I don't know what the kids were talking about before Ben started inviting them to church. But I hope they were talking about Jesus. And I certainly hope Ben's actions didn't detract from his words.
Since I homeschool my younger children, they're stuck with me all day every day. I see their strengths and their faults. I praise them and discipline them. We talk a lot. In fact, they're all quite chatty - but so am I, so it works out well. When Ben gets into trouble, we talk about Jesus. When Ben does wonderful things, we talk about Jesus. When Derik and I make decisions for our family, we talk about how Jesus influenced our decisions. Intentionally, we try to make Jesus the focus of what we do. Why do we work hard? Why are we kind when others are mean? Why do we share our money and time with others? Why do we discipline our children when it would be easier to ignore their naughty behavior? (Ben knows this answer well.)
The truth is, we will give account for all we do (and don't do). One day, I will stand before Jesus. He knows everything. I can hide nothing. He knows if I'm stingy. He knows if I selfishly decide to ignore naughty because it is easier. He knows when my heart is unkind even if my mouth doesn't speak. Ben knows I must discipline him for his naughty behavior, because if I don't, Jesus will be upset with me. Ben knows that I am not my own. Even though Mom is in charge, I'm still accountable to God.
I teach Ben, but ironically, I am also Ben to some extent. I am naughty. My nature pulls me away from God. One minute I might be witnessing to someone, the next minute I'm irritated and impatient. But I am thankful that even as God is working on my child's heart, He's also working on mine. Though I fail and am flawed, it shouldn't stop me from talking about Jesus. Daily we should live to honor Christ, to share the Good News, and to have relationship with others. Ben makes friends easily. God has put many opportunities before Him. We should not shy away from opportunities to share Jesus - even on the playground. Because like Paul we should not be "ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16)
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