Parenting is Worth the Trek

October 24, 2024

From Pastor Eileen States

This past weekend 3 of my 4 children joined Eric and I for a backpacking excursion that we like to do as a family around this time each year. Backpacking means placing your clothes, your bedding, your tent/hammock and your food into a pack onto your back and trekking down a trail for said number of miles.  

Some of you at this moment are shaking your head and questioning our sanity. I would be the first to say I love me a nice comfortable bed and good climate control with no bugs. But there is a bond that takes place when our family goes on these trips. We are given sacred time to be able to converse in a way that isn’t possible in the busy pace of everyday life. 

As we sat around the fire Friday evening and Sabbath morning engaged in some deep spiritual conversations listening to our kids’ thoughts about their personal journey with God and what He’s doing in their lives, it made the 5.3 mile trek (one way) more than worth it.  Eric and I made a vow to God some 23 years ago that we would partner with Him to raise the children He gifted us with - in order to be able to present them back to Him at His 2nd coming. That journey has NOT been easy. There have been MANY tears shed, many painful conversations, many prayers offered on behalf of them and ourselves. 

Parenting is not easy. It is emotionally draining and yet, often extremely rewarding. Parenting needs to be intentional, bathed in prayer asking for wisdom for the different challenges faced each day. 

We have a mom’s group that meets each Wednesday morning right here in our church from 8:45 - 10:00 a.m.  We visit together, share life’s joys and trials together, cry together, pray together and are currently studying through a book I would highly recommend for all parents. I wish I had read this book when my children were young. 

The book title is PARENTING, 14 Gospel principles that can radically change your family by Paul David Tripp. I will leave a link below if you would be interested in purchasing one for yourself and your family. 

Parents, may I encourage you today to stay vigilant. Stay intentional. Go on those treks (quality time that works for you as a family). Teach your children to honor and love our God. These are trying times for them to grow up in. Give them the tools to succeed with God as not only their Savior and Lord but also their Partner and Friend.

I leave you with these verses to inspire you to that end. . .

Proverbs 1:8-9

“Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.”‍

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your

children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you

lie down and when you get up.”

Stay tuned. On November 9, just before our Fall Fest we would like to invite you to join us for a Sabbath sundown worship in the church sanctuary. There, some of us will be modeling, as well as sharing ways to have more meaningful family worship times together. 

Click here for the link to get the book.