thrivingI know 90 % of the world would think that someone like me takes life too seriously. That I over think things. I make a big deal over things that are just no big deal.

I don’t get that. How can people not take life seriously, when it is so fragile and precious? I don’t understand why people cannot see how we are destroying the most precious things we own, that we were born with, that we didn’t have to earn or work for in anyway. Our lives, our world, our minds.

Why do we corrupt our own minds and the minds of others and think that that is okay. What has happened to our world? Why do we not understand who is at the root of it all.

“As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD,” sometimes this can be an incredibly challenging task in the times we live. My husband and I try our best to live by our convictions but are surrounded by friends and family, who neither share nor understand them.

We teach our kids one thing and everyone else set an example of something different. Even those who are fellow Christians.

For a very long time my husband and I were convicted in our hearts to purposely and watchfully raise our children. What I mean by that is, not just provide their physical needs, send them school and take them to church on Sunday and hope that some Godliness gets in and stays there.

For me, it is listening as they play and correct them in their words and actions that do not align with Godly behavior, being vigilant in what they watch, read, listen to and how they dress, teaching them Godly characteristics, teaching about God daily, honing their skills, homeschooling them, etc.

“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.”

Deuteronomy 11:18-21 NIV

This is truly a more challenging form of parenting and it is a full time job. Sometimes I can feel discourage in my ability to parent in this way, but I am more discouraged about the alternative. Losing my kids hearts to this world.

God made us special and wonderful, and somewhere along the line we become broken and corrupted, but they are some children who are raised in this manner of parenting (purpose-filled) that grow up to be thriving and happy adults, who positively makes a difference where ever they go. They light up this dark world and these will be the people who will be truly missed when God comes back for his children.

Every day I continue to grow in my faith and my walk and I got to tell you I’m loving it, even though sometimes it is very hard. I am looking forward to where God leads this family and seeing how big this family grows and who my children will become.

Even though we have done the best we can in keeping their (our children) hearts and minds as pure as we could, it is impossible to keep everything out, at least not without completely isolating ourselves from the people God has placed in our lives.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.

Philippians 4:8 NIV

So I pray to him for wisdom, guidance, strength and courage to complete this race he has set before me and jump over all hurdles and win a trophy. I want to see my children flourish.

Check-out these link-up parties, I’ve visited: The Modest Mom,