Restore Children

Malachi 4:6

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁶ And he will turn
The hearts of the fathers to the children,
And the hearts of the children to their fathers,

This was the scripture that came to mind after listening to a mom pour out her heart regarding her child who walked away from  their relationship with the Lord.  I sat and listened as she explained how her daughter survived a car accident in which the child was thrown 60 feet from the car.  The child was in a coma for several months and when she came out, she(the child) explained that she was talking with the Lord and He told her it was time to go home to your parents.

To make a long story short - the child had a great relationship with God.  She read her bible every day, prayed every day, told people about her encounter with the Lord while she was in the coma, and how much she loved the Lord. Unfortunately, the child was later diagnosed with MS and walked away from her home, her relationship with the Lord and everyone she knew.

The mom sat there and cried for a few minutes before I said anything to her.  She kept saying that it was her fault.  That she did something in the past and now her household is under a curse.  She couldn't think of what "caused" this to happen and why God would do this to her child.

It took some time for her to understand that God didn't do it, He only allowed it to happen.  The bigger concern for me wasn't that the child was sick, but that their relationship was sick.  Now, you know that I am not in the healthiest of relationships with my own father, but I am still a minister at the end of the day.  So, I wanted to know what was your part in the child seemingly walking away from God.  What was her role in training up the child so that when the child was old enough to make her own decisions, she would stay in Christ?

As a father, I know I don't always get it right, so I know others must fall short sometimes as well.  It finally came out.  She was the child's friend instead of the mother that the child needed.  Instead of nurturing and parenting, she showered the child with gifts because of her past issues after the car accident and MS.  

The child didn't need to bought with "things", she needed her parents.  Parents who were willing to make some tough decisions that required them to say "no, you don't need that."  With all of that, I encouraged her to give her child (now adult) to the Lord.  To go to the alter of God in her heart, confess her failings, rejoice in her triumphs, and leave the child right there.

Stories like this woman only fuel me to want to be a better father.  I have said this before - I never go to my friends who have children the same age as mine for advise, I go to grandparents who have walked where I've not been.

So what does this have to do with the scripture at the top?  As people, we need to take the time to sit and ask for clarity of God's Word. It's time to make our homes healthy.  Get your child from in front of the TV, the video game, turn off the stereo and take some time to talk to them.  Get to know their dreams, desire and goals.  Find out what excites them in current events - find out if they even know what a current event is.  Take a real interest in their school work and school events.  Celebrate them while you model good character, morals and values.  STOP buying them every little thing that they want(unless it's educational) - :things are band aids for time spent with you.

The children of today live with a sense of entitlement that we as parents have allowed to permeate and rule our homes.  Just take a moment and listen to the conversations around you the next time you shop.  See who is really in control.

My son came to me one day asking to toss the football.  I was exhausted from yard word, my job, scouts and several other things, but I took some time to give him what he needed - time with me.  I father him to the best of my ability while pouring love on him.  He says I am his best friend, I say thank you letting him know that I am still DAD FIRST.

And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,
And the hearts of the children to their fathers,