Several years ago, I had a parent of a young adult in my office desperately upset as she struggled in her mind trying to figure out what went wrong. You see, her daughter left her home and got wrapped up in drinking, drugs, and hanging out with a rough bunch of people. Her mom was trying to figure out what went wrong. I could have easily told her a few things about what went wrong, but it was not time for that. It was time to lift her up and I wanted to encourage and help her overcome depression, guilt, and anxiety about the whole situation. So, I told her that not all hope was lost and how there was still time to reach her. 

However, I also know this. 

The entire time her daughter was in junior high and high school her family was not involved in the work of the church. We invited and even pleaded with people all the time. They heard us say things like…

“Come to this event and work with us on outreach.”

“Help us help others on Saturday.”

“Go with us on the mission trip.”

“Attend the monthly devo.”

“Come to Bible class and study the book of Acts with us.”

“Attend worship, and let’s sing and praise God!”

“Let’s go together to church camp.”

“Come to the prayer night and stoke the flame next Sunday.”

They heard the words, but rarely did they show up to be involved.

I am not saying that if you do all the things, you will not still fall away. I am not saying that attending all the prayer meetings guarantees that you will defeat your sins and overcome temptations. But, I am saying, that it can make it easier. I am saying that when you attend these events and get-togethers, you will build relationships that will last an eternal lifetime. I am saying that being involved with your kids makes it so that when you, and they, face temptation and sin, you are not going to face it all alone!

Don’t let it be, that years from now, you are in my office wondering what happened. You and your family need and should be involved. It can make later on easier on you and your family.

 

“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it”

Proverbs 22:6

For the Lord,

Alex