REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on April 28, 2018.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The Meaning of Raising Three Little Munchkins” 

As I was reading a blog I wrote in 1998 when my kids were 8, 5, 1, respectively, I couldn’t really remember what led me to write this at that time: 

“The other day, my wife confessed that raising three kids has changed her personality for the worse. Why? Well, when you have to yell as often as my wife and I do to prevent our young ones from hurting themselves, not to mention breaking up ‘fights’ between them, you would become a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde too. Then, there is this aspect of parenting that is a real bummer: you no longer have a life of your own; instead, it is dictated by your kids—or rather, by their school—more specifically, by all that the school asks the students to do at home with their parents. I was so relieved the other day after finding this out. Earlier this year, Christy had to do a special project for her second-grade animal book project. For that, she had to cut out pictures of at least two animals in six categories and also write something about each of them. I had to help her, and it was a lot of work—especially the writing part. So when I was told that her third-grade teacher also wanted to do an animal project, but this time with five animals in each of six categories, I was genuinely anxious. But, oh, what a relief it was when Christy told me that the writing part is done in the class! This meant that all I had to do was help her find the right pictures and cut them out! The pressure was definitely off!

So, is all of this worth it: constant doubting about your judgment and ability to properly discipline your kids, changing personality, and a significant loss of your personal space? Of course it is, otherwise, we would have put these munchkins up for adoption by now. 

So, what makes it worthwhile? It’s the joy of seeing them forgive and care for each other; seeing their awareness of God increase by leaps and bounds each day; the joy of hearing their kind words of appreciation for us; the relief and thrill of finishing the project together; and sitting around and having family devotions, which always seem to turn into something else in the end—yes, it is all worth it. 

Lastly, I find that there is nothing quite like parents’ concern for their children that drives them to Christ. Why? It is because you feel so helpless as parents—so you go to Him and plead for mercy for your children’s souls. I just wish that when my kids read Proverbs 17:6b (‘Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children’), they will say, ‘Yes, that’s my parent.’ I wish that when the Lord reviews my life, He will say, ‘Good job bringing them up in the training and instruction of the Lord’” (Eph 6:4b).

Prayer: Help, Lord! Thank You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Timothy 2-3