22 Apr Come and See: Modeling Spiritual Growth for Our Children
One day some time ago, I spent a couple of hours lounging on the back deck of a friend’s house. Over the course of the afternoon, we chatted about many things related to raising children. We talked about different movements in the homeschooling community and about our own experiences growing up. It was the kind of mom talk I enjoy, open-hearted and filled with a longing to know the Holy Spirit’s leading. Yet even as we spoke with conviction, we knew that we often fall short in the day-to-day stuff our kids see. At one point, my friend said, “Sometimes I think about sending them to school for just one year so I can get myself worked out. Then I’d bring them back home when these areas of my own life have been dealt with.”
Oh, how I can relate to that! How many times have my plans for self-improvement been thwarted by the seemingly endless cares of people depending on me? But the truth is that none of us will ever arrive at the end of our growth. We are always still becoming who the Lord would have us be. As mothers who spend every hour with our children, that stretching happens in front of their all-seeing hearts. Despite how much easier it would seem to hide away and return once we’re “done,” our children are our responsibility now, today.
Not Us, but Him
When you walk into my house, the first thing to greet you is a large sign on the wall that says, “Come and see.” My husband and I made the sign not long after buying this house. We wanted to express our deep desire that all who enter our home find Jesus here. This is not due to anything good in us, but because of the One who knows us intimately, yet loves us anyway.
I love that phrase. Jesus used it in the first chapter of John, when two of John the Baptist’s disciples heard Him speak. They wanted to know where to find Him again. He responded with an invitation to join Him there, saying “Come and see.” And they followed.
The very next day Jesus called Philip to follow Him. Then Philip found Nathaniel and told him that he had found the Messiah. Nathaniel scoffed at anything of value coming from Nazareth, but Philip didn’t try to convince him. He issued the same invitation, “Come and see.” Meet Him yourself. Watch. Listen. You’ll know Him, I promise.
That is our desire for everyone who enters our home, and certainly for our own children. Watch, little ones. Listen. He is here. He is at work.
In His Hands
After the afternoon of listening to and sharing with my friend, my family and I got to attend a backyard “housewarming concert.” One of the musicians who shared his gifts with us that night was Matthew Clark, who sang his song “Kumalo.” You can listen to it here. I loved the song from the first moment I heard it, and we’ve been singing it ever since.
Kumalo, Kumalo, I am not a good man,
Not a good man;
What can I say?
Only that the Lord has shown me grace,
Only that the Lord has shown me grace.
Let them see you, see you,
In every place you fear to be seen.
They will find His mercy, mercy,
And say, “Surely if the Lord can save you,
He can set me free from all my sin.”
What a beautiful image! God uses even our shortcomings to display His great mercy and grace to those around us. Is that not encouraging?
Homeschooling Lets Our Kids Watch Us Grow
Sometimes it seems like it would be simpler to get away from our children just long enough to “fix” all of our faults. But in doing so we’d rob them of the privilege to walk with us as we grow more like Jesus. The testimony to His goodness that we live before our children daily means more than anything else we could teach them. When we fail, may they see our humility. When we are weak, may they see His strength. As we grow, may they look with wonder upon the Potter molding us more and more into His own image. I want my life to be an open invitation for my children to come and see all that God is doing. It’s messy, learning to live with each other, but sometimes I can see glimpses of something glorious. Those are the moments I want my kids to hold on to. I know I can trust our loving Father with my imperfect mothering. In His hands it becomes something incredibly precious, far beyond what I could imagine.
Read more articles from Katie here.