Again and Again and Again and …
If you attended the Family Ministries Training Camp in August, you no doubt heard Deuteronomy 6 referenced: “…Repeat [these commands] again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.” I love these verses. So clear. So purposeful. So practical. However, there is a small disconnect for me that creates a dilemma. Subconsciously, when I envision these verses being lived out in a wonderfully nurturing, Christ-centered home, I picture something like this: a father – unfatigued from his day at work, eager and equipped to engage his children in meaningful ways from the time he returns home until he tucks them snugly in their beds. I picture a soft-spoken, unshakable mother – tirelessly instilling Biblical truths, calmly redirecting her children’s erroneous behavior, undaunted and undistracted in her conviction of her calling. I picture children, on a quiet walk through their neighborhood with their parents, listening with eager little ears… “Tell me again, Dad, how I could better respond to my brother when he takes my favorite airplane from me… Oh yes, that makes much more sense than my rude words and selfish desire to grab it back.”
On the other hand, this was us two weeks ago, during some intentional Deuteronomy 6 time, talking about God’s character and truth:
ME (passionately paraphrasing Isaiah 40 for 10 minutes): Did you know that the Bible says God calls the stars out like an army and knows them all by name? Did you know that He is strong enough to hold this whole world together and that He wants to give us some of His strength?
NOAH (just as passionate): Mom, some day will you take me to Dairy Queen??!!
Ok. I have no response to that. Except, I’ll admit a D.Q. Blizzard did sort of sound good. But let me take you to another of our Deuteronomy 6 moments recently, whereby I took the three boys to our neighbors’ houses, inviting them to partner with us in collecting food for the Stuff the Truck drive at Watermark. I believe it was our third house, where we were invited in. While we there, I was explaining to my neighbor (whose name I barely know) how we believe part of knowing and loving Christ is caring for people and meeting their needs – just like He met our greatest need – while my children stood beside me, learning how to engage people with the Gospel, demonstrating to our neighbors how blessedly behaved children can be when they are raised by God-fearing parents. Wait! Scratch that last part. Actually, while I talked with my neighbor, my children were inexplicably chasing each other, screaming through his house (when I had prepped them beforehand to stand with me like big boys while we were talking), jumping on his couch (which they aren’t even allowed to do at home), and I can’t be sure, but I am pretty confident one of them called my neighbor “Mr. Stinky Pants.” It could have been “Mayor Stinky Pants.” There’s no way to know for sure.
Do you see my dilemma? (You probably see a few at this point.) Deuteronomy 6 FEELS a lot different in real life than it SOUNDS like on the page. It doesn’t sound like a battle, but it is. It is a battle for the hearts of my kids. It is a battle against my craving for something more entertaining than what “again and again” (Deut 6:7) feels like. It is a battle to believe that Isaiah 55 is true and that God’s Word will unfailingly accomplish His purposes, even though I may not feel immediate fruitfulness as I plant it in the souls of three young boys. It may not feel fruitful sometimes, but it is a more sure bet that there will be no fruit if I don’t plant at all. Or if I just plant when I feel inspired to. Or if I plant when I get my housework and errands done. Or when the kids are all at optimal cooperativeness. He says “again and again and again” is what it takes. So let’s all get out there – say a little prayer that He gives my neighbors some sort of divine amnesia for the sake of the Gospel – and plant seeds of truth in our kids. Again and again and again and…
NEXT STEPS
Applying Deuteronomy 6:6-7
In what ways can you be more intentional with the time your family spends – in the car together, around the table at meals, texting each other, starting the morning together, as you end the day and go to bed? Do you utilize a devotional or go through the Journey together? How can your family regularly connect over God’s Word?
If you have preschool children, have you signed up to receive the Starting Blocks PlayBook? It’s an easy way to build on what they are learning at church on Sundays with projects and activities you can do together with other moms or just with your kids at home. Sign up online by checking the PlayBook box HERE
