Children are little sponges, we all know that. They are listening and watching everything we do and their little hearts and minds are always learning. We dare not lead them astray. McKinley learned about Jesus from the time he was 2 years old. At age 5, he stepped out into the long isle at Lone Oak First Baptist and headed toward Brother Henson. For those of you who don’t know Brother Henson, he is a large man in stature and voice! The Lord led McKinley to the front of the church where he gave his life to the Jesus!! God called Paul and I to impart His love into our home. McKinley witnessed, and was a part of, honoring God in all our ways. Was our home perfect? No! But God, in spite of our mistakes, used us to lead McKinley to Him.
So I ask you, what are your children seeing in your home? Do they see the love and peace Christ brings to your life? It is our responsibility as Christian parents to instill in our children truth about the gospel. That responsibility is a gift from God and we should cherish it.
We have been blessed countless times to hear of parents and children praying for us. My friend Dena was teaching her daughter Brooke the continents and the moment she showed her Africa, Brooke exclaimed with excitement, “That is where Paul and Velda live!” We have heard story after story of children asking their parents about Paul and I living in Africa. Some of the questions are quiet funny while others are remarkably mature. We are blessed beyond measure to know that God is working in their hearts!!
This is a message we received this week on Facebook:
“On the drive in to school this morning, out of the blue, Owen asks me, “Mom, you know Paul and Velda that live in Africa, do they have different voices now? And are they ever going to come back?” He was asking if you spoke in a different language. So that prompted a 15-minute story-telling session on what language you are learning to speak, having to go to school to learn it, the waterfall you visited, the children you’re working with, the crazy animals you see on the side of the road, whether or not the kids have any toys, what type of truck you drive on the dirt road…. and all for God’s glory! What a great lesson we had in the car this morning! Love ya!” – Kindra
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says, “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”