Archive for the 'Shepherding the Heart' Category
03-09-2008
Intentionally Shepherding the Heart
Intentionally Shepherding the Heart
I often hear concerns raised about what the future holds for our youth. Fears relating to society’s saturated media influence give cause for such solicitude, in particular the aspects of violence and perverse sexuality. Some extrapolate that consumerism will ensnare youthful hearts into a mosh pit of materialism. It makes sense to want to shield our young from such societal influences. In response, we strive to create a ‘safe’ place for children. We go to great lengths by enlisting our young in a litany of activities. We sign them up for scouts, sports, music, dance, and so on. We pay for private schools, private lessons, and private tutors. We try to teach our children the values we hope they will absorb, and yet, with all our intentional shepherding- have we missed something? I recently read an article from a little girl who wrote about her experience volunteering with special needs children. She attends a private school and had never been around individuals with disabilities. She shared how much this opportunity impacted her in a positive way. Her insight caused me to exam my own family and what possibilities my children might be missing. During our family dinner that night I opened up the discussion by asking our kids who in our community might need help. There was no hesitation. Joshua, the oldest, asked permission to get up from the table and ran to get a pen and paper. Together, we began listing ways our family might be able to contribute: feeding the homeless (“We can make bags full of food and hand them out, mom!”), playing games at the nursing home, serving at a soup kitchen, donating to people who don’t have things, visiting people in the hospital, and so went the list. The conversation ignited an energy that mirrored purpose and passion. It is so easy to become ‘busy’ packing our kids schedules with activities that we can easily miss opportunities to shepherd their heart. We not only demonstrate stewardship when the basket is passed at Church, but we live stewardship when we stop and engage the homeless person, rather than looking away when passing by.I realize in order for my kids to learn to be compassionate and generous of heart, it is my responsibility as a parent, I am the arbiter called to intentionally create opportunities for them to live out those characteristics. We can both admire Mother Teresa and emulate her when we visit the sick or suffering. We can adore Jesus and we can imitate Him by loving our neighbors on the street corners, in the nursing homes, and in our jails. Shepherding the hearts of our young has to become intentional practice. If we are going to be ‘busy’, let’s be busy about building up the
ALS, Lou Gehrig’s Disease, currently has no cure. Kirk and Angie (story below) are a great testimony of faith. Together, let’s seek a cure! To hear Kirk’s story you can click on his and Angie’s picture and link on the page belowhttp://olathebible.org/index.cfm?PAGE_ID=1251
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