by Susan Smith-Roberts

Created on: October 27, 2008

Yes, we should let our children decide but, only after we do our jobs as parents. We as parents have a responsibility to teach our children about the religion we practice and why we chose to practice it and most importantly the reason we choose to get baptised or christened. We as a "busy society" always want to choose to find the quick fix to something or we want someone else to do it for us so if they don't turn out OK, we can blame it on the person we hired to do it. We as parents must take the responsibility of developing and molding our children ourselves. For God's sake they are ours! They are precious gifts given to us for a purpose in this life. It is up to us to raise them and to provide them with all the real facts they need to make the right decision for their lives. Our micro-manage skills is what we need to use on their lives. Yes, this is where it is truly needed. We should micro-manage them and their lives by being their Lifetime Manager, not as control freaks but, as teachers and consultants providing them with the facts, offering suggestions and discussing any questions they have, help them by guiding them in a positive direction for their life's benefit. It is our responsibility to do and give them real information - the wisdom from our own life's experiences. So often we are still ashamed and scared to tell them anything. Most of the time when we talk to them it is something negative, something they did not do or should not have done. They don't see us as providing them with anything of substance to use in their worlds so often they think of us as out of touch, slow or simply dumb to their need and even our own. So, it starts with stopping right were you are at, and turn the TV off and taking them by their hand and look them right in the eye and open your heart. God will do the rest. You just got to make the time and give your effort.

We need to step up and become responsible for what information we feed them or allow them to have access too. For one there is a lot of stuff out there that is not good for them to find out on their own. It is our responsibility to weed out the junk and provide only the facts. We should be one step ahead and be the one telling them in a way that they can understand ahead of time before they see it on TV or at school or are faced with it in front of themselves. There is a way it can be done, but once again, WE need to be the starting point of where it should all begin. Then they can make the right decision for them. Based upon facts, and wisdom. Even if they don't make the decision we want they have enough of the right information to make it honestly for themselves. We can respect their decision even if we don't agree. At least we know we gave them the best information in its true sense and really, that's all we can do. But, by not doing anything or not taking responsibility for providing the information they need, we are leaving them wide open for any and everything. All which most of us know is the wrong things and I ask you can you afford to have that laid on your heart? Can you carry the weight of their bad, life changing decisions on your conscience?

Please remember when its all said and done and we are facing the Creator of of All, we must account for our precious gifts that were given to us under our direction and care. Can you afford to stand before the Lord and honestly say you did all you could to help them to make the right decision for their spiritual life in the life after?

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