(This post was written by Gina McClain, Director of Children’s Ministries)

Fighting for the Heart focuses creating an environment in your home that fuels the emotional and moral development of your kids.  Last weekend Pastor focused on this value and I was challenged by the verse he shared in Proverbs 4, “Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it.” 

As a parent, it’s very easy to get caught up in ‘the weeds of parenting’.  Homework, showers, dinner, field trip, behavior reports, parent/teacher conferences, scholastic book orders, soccer practice, practice after soccer practice because soccer practice didn’t go well and (for the love of Pete) lunch accounts that mysteriously whittle away to nothing in half the time that you planned. 

**sigh**

And somewhere amidst all of that I’m supposed to teach my child how to follow Jesus. 

Yet what is directly in front of me are my son’s grade report & my daughter’s behavior report.  Two tangible items that attempt to tell me how my kids are performing.  If they are performing well, I want to encourage them and celebrate.    If they are not, I want to admonish and challenge them to do better.

These are not bad responses.  However, if I miss the heart of the matter…

…that we want to do well in school because scripture says to “Do all things for the glory of God.”

…that we want our behavior to reflect the heart of Christ

…then I miss an opportunity to leave God’s thumbprint on their heart. 

Even in the craziness… especially in the craziness, it’s critical to step back and gain perspective on all that’s going on.  We can do a great job teaching the “Do’s & Don’ts” of life.  But the heart of parenting is not to define your child by what they DON’T do…

“I don’t smoke. I don’t chew.  I don’t run with boys who do.”

The heart of parenting is to lead your child to love Jesus with everything you have no matter what you do.

Fight for the Heart.  Your source of life flows from it.