I Love Church- But I Hope my Daughter Loves Christ.
Church is one of my favorite places in the world. Even in college, I loved attending Sunday sermons, participating in a life group, and hanging out with my “church friends”. At one point I even worked for a church, running errands and helping to collect the necessary articles the pastor wanted to use for reference to craft their Sunday sermon. I love church.
I think part of my love for church stems from it being a safe place for me. I know this is not true for everybody, and please know I am speaking only of my personal experience. It is a place where I have been able to make connections with other believers as well as learn what it means to worship through song and prayer.
But, it wasn’t until a few years ago that I would say I really found my home, not in church, but in Christ. I accepted Jesus when I was 18, but can’t say I really knew Jesus until 25. I knew my interpretation of Jesus, and I knew God in a way that fit my personal needs and desires. But God wasn’t meant to be put into a box, not even my personally crafted box, and, unsurprisingly, he broke free.
God is good. God is love. And, God is wild about you. Such simple statements. Yet, so difficult to grasp. The creator of the universe has time for me? Yes, he does.
When I think of God’s love, I think of my daughter. I think of the way I love her and how my love for her is just a tiny inkling of the love God has for me. He loves us SO much. So much, that the love we have as parent’s for our children pales in comparision. That’s saying something!
I hope as my daughter grows, she will know this love that can only be found in Christ (and hopefully she finds it sooner than I did!). We sleep-walk through life, unaware that the creator of the universe is calling out to us. We go through the motions day-to-day without ever considering that there is more. God has more for us. In him rests everything. Everything good. Everything holy. It is my hope and prayer that my daughter will one day know this. I pray that the Lord will bless my husband and me to accurately communicate his love for her. Finally, that God will continue to pour into my life and the life of my family.
So, yes. I love church. It might make me a goody-two-shoes, but let’s be honest. I am one. But there is something I love more than church, and that is Christ. I hope to live for him and die for him. I wonder, what do you love? This is not meant to be a condemning question, but a curious one. Where do your hearts desires lie? I think it is worth considering. We will pass on a legacy to our children. What do you want yours to be?
A Prayer for Our Legacy
Lord, What we fill out hearts with matters. What we pass on to our children matters. Help us to pass on your love, goodness and grace. Help us to exemplify the goodness found in you. It is in your mercy and grace that love is found. Help us to be examples of your love to our children and to all who surround us. Amen.
