"You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up" (Deuteronomy 6:7).

The elders of the church we attend paid us a visit last night. They make it a point to visit every member of the congregation on a yearly basis to meet in the home of every member to see how things are going.

My husband serves as one of the deacons, so our family is very close to these elders. And, as we sat around comfortably talking, we got around to the topic of our adoption, and how the kids just seem as though they have always been here!

In anticipation of their arrival, my daughter (in an unintentional funny) referred to it as, “The Elderly Meeting!“ But, I wonder, as in that story that tends to make the rounds in e-mail inboxes everywhere, what would you do, if Jesus were to visit your home? What would you have to change? Would He find you behaving as you normally do (and if so, is that a good thing or a bad thing?)

By that I mean:

Would we be afraid of “unintentionally funnies” our kids might make because they heard us bash the church, or a member of it?

Do we complain or gripe because we don’t like things, or are we part of the solution?

Do we just attend when it is convenient for us, though God sent His Son when it wasn’t a convenience to Him?

Do we “send” our kids off to Sunday school, though we ourselves may not attend?

Do we only go on “The Big Two” (Easter and Christmas)?

If our children have homework or memory work from Bible Class, do we help them to complete it during the week?

Do we instill a prayer life in our children by saying prayers at meals, bedtime, family time, or anytime?

Do the children have an example in us in personal Bible study time?

In the hustle and bustle that is everyday life with small children, we might neglect such “small” things, yet, like that song, “Cat’s in the Cradle” one day they will be grown, and gone and it will then be too late for a “do-over.”

If you are diligently doing these things, it’s not a guarantee that our kids will continue to embrace the faith, but we’re still commanded to teach them. If you are not doing these things, and are a parent of faith, you can start today!

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