Push to Prayer???

My six year old doesn't like to pray. At all.

He doesn't mind if you pray and he will ask us to pray for him, but he doesn't want to pray. I think it has more to do with praying out loud and us listening rather than him not really wanting to talk to God. But as a parent it kind of makes you feel like a Christian failure when your kid doesn't want to do "godly" things...I mean we are battling for his soul, right?

There are lots of things in my six year olds life that tells me that he has an ongoing relationship with God. He has not made a decision to ask Jesus into his life, but he is moving towards that decision. How can we tell?

Well, he asks questions. He asks a lot of questions. He wants to know about God. How did God get here? why is God so big? Where is heaven?  What is baptism? I could go on and on here. He repeats God's truths that he has learned from our conversations and from what he has learned in church. He did this the other day when talking about God being invisible, and that even though we don't see him He is real.  He LOVES singing and music. Pretty much all that we listen to affirms his relationship with God and doesn't take away from it.

So, my pride as a parent takes a beating when we ask Carter to pray and he refuses. We have learned not to push it ( he loves doing the opposite of what you want him to do...). But I know we could do a better job being that example. I know we haven't "failed" him in some way, even though I do admit to fearing that he we have done something wrong or that is we had done something different he would be a praying fool (LOL).

But what I have to keep in perspective is that Carter is working out his relationship with God and even though I wish he would eagerly pray at dinner time and bedtime, the most important thing is that we are living our relationship with Jesus in front of him and that one day, when he is ready, he will commit his life to Christ. It's my job to pray for him, be an example to him (that means me praying more in front of Carter) and educating him on who God is and why we talk to Him.

And when Carter is ready, he will move toward Christ. I would much rather Christ have Carter's heart than Carter just having actions that look like he has Christ when he hasn't really chosen a personal relationship. I would take that any day over hearing him pray a cute prayer over dinner. Period.

Social Media and kids...

I found this article on facebook and was told feel free to share. I thought I would pass this on to parents. I've spoken a little bit about social media and kids, and passed on just a few articles. Even though my kids are still too young to be on social media, my six year old knows what facebook is and asks me to contact his best friend's mom via facebook to pass a message on to his friend. AND he also knows how to text and if we aren't careful will text grandma and grandpa, papa, aunts and of course...his best friend's mom (it doesn't help that I have his best friend's name in the contact. LOL.

Needless to say, this is a serious subject and one not to be taken too lightly. Access to Internet at any age need to be well monitored by parents. Just because you have a great kid and you trust them, doesn't mean they are ready to have their own laptop or even an iPhone.....even if "everyone" else does.

Stay strong parents!!!! Follow your gut. Protect your children!! It's your job.

Here is a link to the article

12 THINGS STUDENTS SHOULD NOT DO ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Hope you are having a great week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!