Having Kids To the Glory of God

Justin Taylor had a post about adoption that pointed to Shaohannah’s Hope. I watched this video and it reminded me of a thought I had while on my roof cleaning out the gutters Monday (ah my random thought life). While adoptions is a wonderful thing, it is also a reminder that so is having our own children. Sometimes adoption may make what we are doing more intentional, caring for this child, teaching them the things of God, giving of ourselves, etc., but we who have unadopted children need to be intentional as well. Did we have children to glorify God? Are we raising them to the glory of God? No matter under what circumstance you had children, this is the goal. It is so difficult in the midst of daily whiningvand fussing to forget and just try to make it through another day, but God has given us our children as a gift, for our good and pleasure, but ultimately for His glory. It is easy to forget this simple truth, we have a responsibility to bring Him glory in our parenting.
There appear to be 3 attitudes parents fall into:

1. Shepherds: Rearing children for God’s Glory.
2. Wardens: Ready to give up or trying to maintain peace, but with no real joy.
3. Golden Calf Herders: Love their children to the point that they become idols.

I will write about each in the following days.