Following up on the 'Space theme' from the previous blog~ Another important aspect to all this is how the importance of having Space in our lives has dimensional consequences.
The decision to allow to have space in our personal lives (space/time to breathe in God's Word deeply, penetratingly...to rest...to see the excellent, the prize), not only will impact us personally, but will ripple-wave out to those around us as well.
In particular, I will concentrate on the affects of Space, or lack thereof, on our children.
Gatekeeping is actually a big part of most mothers' lives. A lot of the decisions we make on a daily basis have to do with our children's activities and logistics. It easy to allow our personal 'Space' to slip away, and we may work at guarding that; but are we also aware of how vital it is to build that Space into each of our children's lives?
If women, moms, are 'spinning out' with all they are balancing- what about our family, our children? Working with youth for over two decades- I've witness an ever escalating phenomenon- excessive youth involvement. Yes, there are those students who could benefit from doing an activity, and are involved in none- that we are made most aware of, and their need to be involved.... But, the concern I submit to you today is: what about the many (perhaps majority) of youth today that 'over-involved'. By over-involved- I mean that they have virtually no Space built in....let alone time to get needed sleep (one of the highest factors in Depression), to eat nutritiously, to eat together as a family, rest, experience quiet, connect face-to-face with others- outside of peers/school settings, go to church, do service projects.... Of course, even good things can crowd out Space....
So how do our youth learn the value of space-time. First, we adults have to have a good handle on it- that we have developed the discipline in our own lives- by seeing its value, based on our Belief... As a Gatekeeper, then we can guide and choose for our children the most 'excellent' of activities for them, which still leave Space for all.
This is quite counter-cultural, I should warn you. In fact, if you apply this principle of space-time, especially if you extend it to your family...you will most likely receive criticism. Even from others, possibly even from others in your church.
We will need a very secure 'Bolt' to give this a try! Here are a couple thoughts for starters....
First, we can look to Jesus Christ and His ministry-- there are many instances for you to find in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament, and I will allow you the pleasure of personal study of them. But there is a principle-thread throughout the times He spends with His disciples- He is teaching primarily by Modeling the lesson to His pupils/disciples. So that is the first lesson for us moms- we need to Model what we would like our children to learn (kids are smart! They know when the walk/talk thing is real or not!) Much of Modeling has an element of training in it...it is just simply what we do, because of who we are.
Another aspect to this principle is that when we do see Jesus giving a verbal lesson to the disciples- it is done in the context of daily living....that 'teachable moment'... One of His best tools was asking the disciples questions- but that followed some instruction already given by doing it, seeing it, hearing it.... Jesus did not compartmentalize what was being learned. For His teachings are more about the BEING like Him, than doing like Him. Jesus knew if they got the 'being' part, the doing would follow.
Culture says, or may I say- screams, at us to react in life- many times we are 'leading' by making decisions based on things like convenience, social/economic reward, popularity (adults are affected by a felt need to be popular as much as the youth- we just try to be more adult about it), one-upping, status, relativism.... things that appeal to our flesh; and if we haven't had our Space with God- will easily take control of the decision making process. (This can happen at an exponential rate of speed with the greater the number of children in the household )
Back to Scripture for more guidance- this time the Old Testament, in Deuteronomy 6: 4-9 It is very similar to Jesus' model, just more precisely given to the family....
"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; and 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. And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your gates...."
Do you see the principles in this passage...connect it with Jesus' model...connect it with the Philippians passage from the previous blog about excellence. We must be diligent, intentional. We are commanded to do so. This is important. We must live it out ourselves....it will be caught, then taught. ....Moms, let us write them on the doorposts of our own gates, as the Gatekeepers- let us consider all we let in and out be weighed out by what pleases the LORD.
A lot to think about. Takes time. Takes space in the day. It may not be culturally popular- but absolutely necessary, essential, to Believing parents raising children; who's ultimate joy is that one day, their child will too walk in the way of the Lord~ " I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking the truth." 3John 4
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