As a father I feel as if I have the responsibility to teach my boys a lot of different things. Here’s just a few I’ve been thinking of…
How to ride a bike.
How to shave.
How to tie a tie.
How to dribble a ball.
How to love people you don’t like.
How to jump off really high stuff.
How to do a push-up.
How to understand women.
How to treat a woman.
But the most important thing I want to teach my boys…
How to trust a God they cannot see.
This past Sunday I watched hundreds of people make their commitment to Faith, Hope, & Love. Each commitment represented someone trusting God in a new and unique way. But the pledge that caught my attention was the one my 8 year old son filled out.
He pledged $50 (that he doesn’t have) to the vision of Cross Point Church. He later told me that God would provide a way for him to fulfill his commitment. This card represents a lot more than fifty bucks. It represents what is hopefully just the first of many adventures my son will have trusting a God he cannot see.
If you missed commitment Sunday at one of our Cross Point campuses and want to make a commitment to Faith, Hope & Love you can do so HERE.
What do you want to make sure you’re teaching your kids?
Great to read this. You should be proud to see your son owning the vision that consumes your heart. Have a great rest of your week and hope you are doing well!
.-= Matthew Legere´s last blog ..Quote for 10/20/2009 =-.
Your boy rocks! Happy ‘proud parent moment’, I hope he (and his brothers) give you many, many more of those in the years to come. X.
.-= Carolyn´s last blog ..A question for Christians (possibly part one of many!) =-.
This mom’s heart chokes back tears…Thanks for making me cry Pete!
I want to teach my children This. How to love and surrender everything no matter the cost.
Because His love is worth it.
.-= jessica´s last blog ..The Tale of Love =-.
Praising God for men raising their sons (and daughters) to trust God and His plan for their lives at such an early and impressionable age.
This world is so uncertain….how important it is for them to know they can always trust in God who will always provide a way for them, a place for rest and a source of encouragement and hope.
hey, just thought of something…this could be a great way to incorporate chores/allowance with tithing and pledges…..
.-= *~Michelle~*´s last blog ..Everybody Stumbles…. =-.
Awesome.
–Terrace Crawford
http://www.terracecrawford.com
http://www.twitter.com/terracecrawford
Awesome!
It’s awesome to see what God is doing through CP & all of the people (young & old)
.-= Nick´s last blog ..Showing A Little Turkey Love Update =-.
As a new dad, this is incredibly humbling and exciting. This is the thing you hope and pray for when it comes to your kids. Why is it so hard for us to have the faith of a child?
That is awesome!
.-= Chrystie´s last blog ..Short Term Gain, Long Term Pain =-.
so proud of Jett! a lot of my thoughts about our pledge to Faith, Hope & Love coincided with thoughts about our baby girl who will be born in January…about the journey of faith it is to have and raise a child and how much i want her to see in Matt and me the assurance of hope in our God (even though we can’t see Him). Thanks for leading us through this opportunity to see Him work in and through our little family and the family at Cross Point that we love so much!
That is fantastic about your son Pete! our girls are grown now and we have tried to instill in them the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus. One lives on her own in Knoxville and is very conscientious about it. The other is married and we are so proud of her that while her husband was going through a tough time in/with his faith, she told him that she was still taking their son to church (whether he liked it or not). Looking back, I can only pray that we have instilled in them the desire to be faithful to Jesus.
.-= bill (cycleguy)´s last blog ..Jumping In or Staying Dry =-.
This is wonderful to see!
.-= Becky´s last blog ..Inconvenienced =-.
Seriously, to have the faith of a child, we ALL need that!!!!
.-= Lauren Kelly´s last blog ..I love….. =-.
How to return kindess for hostility.
How to desire God’s approval, not man’s.
and most importantly, how NOT to climb up on your own roof to fix a chimney.
.-= katdish´s last blog ..Community =-.
Oh my, that just brings tears to my eyes! I know how proud you must be that your son gets it. He just gets it. I am constantly reminded by my own children what real faith is all about and I am also constantly convicted. Lord, I believe. Help me with my own unbelief. Hug Jeff and tell him how proud you are of him.
.-= Carl B. Schultz´s last blog ..Starving in the Presence of Sustenance =-.
whoa! may God continue to capture that big boys heart!
.-= Linnae Hoppe´s last blog ..Go Rebels =-.
@Katdish, you crack me up!
If Jett has some free time this week, maybe he can help me figure all this out
I am struggling through it.
.-= Lindsey Nobles´s last blog ..Defining Community =-.
When I have kids I want to teach them how to love like Christ and not like me (a sinful prideful lover who has a hard time loving his enemies and neighbors).
But man I hope that my kids are able to be like Jett, that is awesome to see the faith of an 8 year old teach a 23 year old like myself about faith.
.-= Kyle Reed´s last blog ..1000 Comment Contest =-.
I want to teach them that circumstances don’t dictate our joy.
@Carpoolqueen, Wow! That is a lesson that will serve them well their entire life!
Living Life with No Regrets – This has been my battle cry to both my children. I want them to live for Christ in a way that they will never regret anything to do for him or choices they make in life.
.-= Jim F.´s last blog ..A good story =-.
Because of Jett’s leading in childlike faith…two of our kiddos have also pledged a total of $105! What a great example Jett has set for kids of all ages! (I’m included in the “all ages” part!) These are the lessons that really matter!!!
Oh man, now I’m all verklempt. You’ve got some pretty awesome kids, Pete.
I’ve always wanted to teach my kids (1) to be unfailingly kind and considerate (still working on that one), (2) that when they give their word, it has to mean something, (3) that they need to know where they stand and what their values are BEFORE they get into a situation where they have to make a possibly life-changing decision.
I am completely unsure if I’ve managed to teach them any of those things. In fact, I think the reason they are priorities for me is that it took me so long to learn those lessons myself. Still workin’ on it all.
.-= Jan C.´s last blog ..Most weekends just seem too short, and therefore I find that . . . . =-.
Bravo! It’s no easy process to trust a God we can’t see, but think the discovery is likely more attainable than understanding ones wife.
JK…my wife is amazing and discovering her is exciting as well.
My oldest boys are 4 and 3 (we have another one 15mon) and this year they gave to Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan’s Purse. It was mommy and daddy’s money that paid for the gifts, but they really owned it by choosing gifts for another boy their age.
I was excited to hear them tell people in the store why they were picking out jump ropes, crayons, toothe brushes, etc. “We’re giving these to a boy who doesn’t have these things like we do.”
We are raising up a generation to know God and his heart for others. Press on…
Thanks Pastor. Right inside our front door are two framed lists. Things my dad taught me and things my mom taught me. Both gifts from our son. Some of those things were caught more than taught. Thank God either way.
once again I just love this whole bloggy world. one thing is evident to me is that your “whole” family is called to church planting and to ministry. this is one more way God showed you that “keep on keeping on Pete” God used Jett to remind you that “no fear” when God has called. Thank you Jesus for Jett and his giant like faith, bring it to fruition God and provide the pledge money and bless his socks off. Amen.
Thanks so much for sharing. I know you and your entire family were thrilled to see ‘faith’ through your son’s eyes.
Blessings today and always,
Kaye
Matthew 21:22
You must be doing something right. This is so sweet.
.-= Jamie´s last blog ..The Good Life =-.
Soooo cool, Pete! Thanks for sharing and thank Jett for reminding us adults how to trust.
Have you seen this website? I love it and it reminded of the things to teach your sons…
http://rulesformyunbornson.tumblr.com/
@Anna, thanks for the link!
@Ashley, we’re praying for that beautiful baby.
My Grandma’s heart is so overflowing with love and joy at Jett’s faith and understanding.
How, at the age of 18, you begin to rely FULLY on God….not us.
.-= DEb´s last blog ..SUSAN G. KOMEN – Race For The Cure 2009 =-.
Pete-
I have been having a crummy day, and have been feeling quite sorry for myself as well, and reading this brought tears to my eyes and a smile to my face. Thank you for sharing. It’s beautiful!
Love your list. As I have raised my girls I think I’ve come to realize I want them to grow up to be adults who not only accept God’s grace and love, but live it out. I want them to show grace to those around them…even when it’s hard.
.-= Lanette´s last blog ..Live and Learn =-.
How to understand women.
This is one of mysteries of God.
Your son is an inspiration.
.-= David Knapp´s last blog ..History Of Israel 3:16 =-.
thank you for always investing in our children. you go over and above providing them life lessons that help grow them spiritually. they’re blessed to call you daddy.
.-= brandiandboys´s last blog ..My Confession… =-.
Well, that little guy just made my night!!!
With each age and stage, its different things for us.
Right now…with our middle school boys..its a boogaboo…we are teaching them to love wisely, especially those that are hurtful to others…and we are teaching them to be respectful to EVERYONE…even when they can see adults in leadership behaving in ways that don’t deserve respect.
Anyway…its never ending huh?
Way to go Jett!!
.-= Fran´s last blog ..Middle school and memories….oh, the joy! =-.
TOTALLY MOVED.
@Lanette, That is totally at the top of my list as well.
to have a servants heart
that people who are the most difficult to love often need our love the most
that nothing is too big for God
.-= Joyce´s last blog ..Good Morning Yesterday =-.
My church started their participation in Advent Conspiracy on Sunday. I had a choice of 5 things to participate in. I chose a catalog that listed various things one could buy for a family in another country: Chickens, ducks, cows, goats, etc. My 10 yo loved reading the catalog and fighting with his 2 siblings what animal we should get. The younger ones wanted ducks. (ducks are cute) but the 10 yo was concerned they’d fly away. He wanted to use his own money to buy chickens, said he had 50 already saved up for a toy and wanted to use it toward this instead. I said that was wonderful; he said he did not have enough and I told him he did; it was only 30 but he wanted to raise an additional 25 so he could purchase a chicken coop and vaccinations as well.
Wow. I love kids; and love their propensity towards generosity. Thanks for sharing.
.-= Torybee´s last blog ..Foundational =-.
Wow!
That’s a real crying moment right there…that woulda broke me down;)
.-= Michael Holmes´s last blog ..Why Biblical Marketing Differs from Conventional Marketing =-.
As the dad of a college junior, it is my pleasure to begin to see the results of what my wife and I have been teaching our daughter over the years. We are so proud of the young woman she is becoming. The thing that we have hoped to pass on to her the most is a love and passion for Christ and loving people as He loves. Her compassion for those who are often written off by the church and society is evidence that God has honored our efforts and desire. Thanks for bringing our attention to the most important calling we have as parents: what we invest in our children.
.-= Randy Kinnick´s last blog ..I’ve Seen the Arms of Christ =-.
Definitely how to treat a woman.
How to hang Christmas lights like their dad did.
And how important it is to call your mother often after you move out.
.-= Candy´s last blog ..A Yellow Fuzzy Community =-.
That’s awesome, Pete. If I’d seen that from my son I would have cried.
As for what I’m teaching them…I’m teaching them to not make the same mistakes their father made that led to so much pain. So far, so good.
.-= Jason´s last blog ..Hello from Nigeria =-.
Oh this really brought tears to my eyes! This coming weekend is commitment weekend at our church up here to build two new campuses in the Twin Cities (a big fat goal!), and my husband and I have really been discussing what our 3-year pledge will be, and what it will look like to give sacrificially.
Your son’s faith inspires me. God will provide! Let us trust what we cannot see.
.-= Hannah Beth´s last blog ..The Courtship — Atlanta Days =-.
Love this post! I’m doing a small series on my blog that finishes this statement: “A man should never have to teach himself ______”
It’s critical that fathers realize that they much be teachers.
.-= Aaron B. Reddin´s last blog ..How to Feel Good About Himself =-.
God is doing AMAZING things through and in Jett. I’m so glad that I have this chance to hear even part of the story!
.-= susan´s last blog ..Jam-Packed January (for Jesus) =-.