I love what Jason is talking about on his blog this week. I will follow his lead and talk about the most important relationship in my life.
I was born out of wedlock in a home that was full of heavy metal, drugs, alcohol and heavy partying. I often wonder where I would be today if my parents never made the choice to follow Christ. However when I was about 7 years old my parents got radically saved. They completely changed their lifestyle over night and my destiny was changed forever.
At 7 years old I don’t really remember the difference. My partying parents loved me and I was still loved by my newly Christian parents. What I do remember is the addition of the community of the life of a church that was introduced to our life. All of the sudden I was a special part of a larger community that included everything I loved in life. Friends, music, musicals, plays, clubs, games, fun, camps and it was all about Jesus. I loved it. At a young age I felt important and useful helping out in Sunday school by the age of 12 or 13… Serving in the Bus Ministry for years and years… Sunday School teacher, camp counselor and the list goes on and on. The positive effect that my parent’s choice to serve Christ and dive into our church community had on my life is immeasurable. I learned so many things in a fun, comfortable setting where I was valued and utilized, all before the age of 16.
I cannot urge you enough to plug into a community and allow your kids to serve in any and every way they can. They will learn so many incredible skills that when they are old will think… I don’t even know where I learned how to do that? My parents modeled servant hood for me and that is something you just can’t teach… you have to model it… Positioning yourself to serve others will reward you in ways you would not even realize.
Tomorrow I am Going to Talk About My Encounter With God.
