As I write this, I am sitting in Maypen, Jamaica, in the middle of a seven-day missions trip with The Rock of Gainesville. The trip includes about 36 high school students and 8 adults, and it has reminded me again that - despite all the negative I see - hope is not lost for this generation.
Spending this time, here, with this group of kids, I am convinced that it is still possible to raise children who make it. To raise our kids to love God and serve Him above themselves.
They wil never be the majority. They will never quite "fit in." But they can fulfill the purposes of God for their generations in spite of the cultural battle against Christianity.
I am surrounded this week by a remnant of those who stand for something greater than themselves. I have witnessed selfless giving, serving, and love. I have seen young people faced with the worst, choose to make the best. I have been so proud of them for all that they have become.
They worship God in a strange land. They pray for people and a nation they do not know. They've given their time, their talents, and their finances to come and sow into a country and a church because they want to be a part of something bigger than themselves.
Are they perfect? No. Who among us can make that claim? They face the same issues as any other teen. But unlike the world around them, they understand that there is a higher calling than the self-indulgence that culture offers them.
As I've watched and listened and interacted with them over the past few weeks, there are so many that I could point to and say "If my children grow up to be like him or her, I would be a very proud father."
These young people are proving that it's not impossible. Even though it may be harder to be a righteous teen today than it was for most of us, it can still be done.
To the parents of these 30+ young people, I say "thank you." Thank you for your years of diligence and commitment to raise your children to honor God. It is an encouragement to those who come behind you. That we can do it. That we can still raise Godly children in an increasingly anti-Christian culture. The future is bright indeed.
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3 comments:
Thanks Jim for those encouraging and complimentary words. We have worked hard raising our girls. Sometimes I wonder if we've been to "hard on them" but then I realize that setting boundaries, having responsibilities and teaching the concept of ruling and reigning is showing how much we truly love them and only want God's best for their lives. When people hear that I have two teenagers and a "tween" they look at me with this "You poor thing!" look but it is a very exciting time of life for us and I am loving every moment of it! No, everything isn't wonderful all the time and yes, I cry out to God and my friends often, but I wouldn't trade it for anyting. It's such a time of growth and change not only for them but for Jim and I as well. So, to other teen parents, embrace this ride we're on and have a BLAST!
Donna Deason
I echo Jim's sentiments about one day being a parent of Godly children like those to whom he he is referring. I see some of the things that these kids are doing and pray that God would give me the wisdom, grace and strength to raise children like that. The parents, pastors, teachers, and other adult leaders are to be commended for the efforts that they have put forth in helping to raise "a remnant" that will stand for God when others don't. But truly, it's the choice(s) that these children have made that have placed them on the path of righteousness and their choice(s) to stay on that path even when the cares of the world are pulling on them from every direction that should be applauded. WAY TO GO!
As a mother of young children, I am watching these young people with great anticipation as they are drawing a line in the sand. I am excited that there are a group of young people coming up that I can point my children to and say, look at what they are doing and what they have done. Every generation in faced with new and changing challenges. We have seen some generations only produce a few that refused to be moved. It is exciting to see these incredible group of kids become magnets for some that were walking the fence. Way to go kids, and keep having a "made up mind".
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