Impressing your kids
by Pastor Reid Matthias
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Impress [these commandments] 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 6:7).
I don’t know if you’re like this, but sometimes I like to talk about the past, things I used to do when I was young, to impress kids about how ‘tough’ it was to live 40 years ago. You know, before the internet, mobile phones and remote-control TVs. (Remember getting up to twist the knob to change the channel?)
Frankly, the moment I start with, ‘When I was a kid …’ in that old codger-like voice, the kids have already tuned me out. They know what trouble and hardship are. They have to live with constant badgering online, persistent pressure to live up to hopeless expectations, and so many channels on TikTok (I’m pretty sure they don’t watch TV anymore). I’m positive that I’m the one who would struggle growing up today.
But you know what does pique their interest? When I talk about how faith and life intersect. When we walk along the road and discover how God is still leading the charge in the world. Describing stories of God’s faithfulness even when I am not or speaking of spiritual struggle in a darkening world is of utmost importance. Even when they don’t respond with ‘Gee, that’s so awesome!’, I can tell a spark has flickered in their world.
This is why God commands that the people of Israel follow and teach the ways of ‘the Lord your God as long as you live … so that you may enjoy long life’ (Deuteronomy 6:b).
Impressing our kids and giving them the knowledge and hope of enjoyably long life together is the joyful command of the Lord our God.
As you walk your journey this week, as you sit at home or travel to work, and as you lie down and get up, impress the kids in your sphere of influence.
The Lord is our God. The Lord alone. And that’s enough.
Help us to hear you, Lord, our God. When life seems difficult, remind us of your saving grace and help us repeat these amazing words to our children. Amen.
Reid Matthias is the school pastor at St Andrews Lutheran College in Tallebudgera, Queensland. Reid is married to Christine, who is part of the Grow Ministries team. Together, they have raised three incredible daughters, Elsa, Josephine and Greta. Dedicated to the written word, Reid has recently published his fourth novel, Blank Spaces, maintains the blog ireid.blogspot.com and regularly contributes to The Lutheran magazine.
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