Photo cred: Narcie Jeter
I’m not sure where to start this post. So I’m going to dive in and ask that you excuse any randomness.
Recently Harry has taken the Lord’s name in vain. As in the big “JC.” As in yelling it when he was upset. Once at home and once at school. My kids attend a parochial school and that really didn’t go over well at school or, for that matter, at home.
The weird part is, I was surprised how incredibly upset this made me feel. I love Jesus. I do. I came to Him and was baptized at 21. But I didn’t I realized how hearing His name spoken in anger by an almost 7 year old would feel like a sucker punch.
I’ve heard Anglicans referred to as the “frozen chosen” and I can see why. And before I go and speak for every other Anglican in the world, in my parish or in my house, I’m going to own the following as how I behave, speak and feel. M’kay?
So I love God, I worship, but I don’t talk God talk all the time.
Things I don’t often say:
“I feel so Blessed…”
“The Lord put it in my heart…”
“I felt moved…”
“Let’s pray about …”
“What would Jesus do…” I may have laughed a little as I typed this and envisioned the WWJD branded bracelets/t-shirts. Just being honest, and rather irreverent. Bad, Sierra, bad.
I am absolutely not saying that these phrases aren’t part of my (non-stop) inner monologue, but they sure don’t come out of my mouth often.
Socially, it is more acceptable to curse using the Lord’s name, than to praise him. Maybe I’m hanging out with the wrong crowd? Maybe (most probably) I am not doing my work as an evangelist in my community, let alone my home.
I’ve been thinking and I’ve been praying about Harry, about my own Christian example. I never thought I was ashamed of my faith, but if I truly believe that Jesus is my Lord, that I was saved from eternal death by his sacrifice why is it so hard to live and speak that truth, the same way I live and speak being a mom, a wife, a woman. It is part of who I am; its the best part of who I am.
Three things came to mind:
- I don’t want to be one of those annoying Christians who turn people away from God because they are too busy preaching to be a good and true friend.
- I didn’t grow up Christian and don’t want to be an annoying happy clappy convert and for my old friends to think I’m nuts
- I’m embarrassed by how colleagues and non-Christian friends will react if I talk about or refer to my faith.
So it comes down to pride and shame. Gee, too bad neither is addressed anywhere in the Bible, right?
Um, yeah. Moving forward there will be more “Jesus talk” in our home. Look out, peeps. Because I am not ashamed of my faith and I will live joyously and fully within it.
As a mother, my kids should be my primary focus to share the gift of God, his Son and the great love that He has for us. My children should be learning about the great responsibility we have in this world to be living examples of His love. Not cursing. Not trying to take our Lord’s name and akin to profanities so common and accepted within our society.
So I’m going to make an effort to re-populate my own vocabulary with the love, hope and example God sets for us, in the hope that my son will transform how he uses his own.
I hope my loving Jesus won’t create a division between us. I hope we can still be friends.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Sierra,
You go girl.
Your example at home, your love of God, will be known by your children. Your words and good deeds will be what they remember. It’s from your heart and reflected by your up-beat personality. When you smile and laugh and sing with them, they’ll learn Jesus’s love which has no limits. Even when you discipline them, they know deep down that you love them. And they even crave discipline sometimes when they try to test your limits.
I remember my then teenage son raging and screeming at me, using the “F” word repeatedly at me. This lasted for many months. Then trouble came his way and he was sent to juvenile prison. John and I would visit him every week. He realized how horrible his words and actions were and he was very embarrassed. He would remark that he didn’t belong there (in jail) because he had a good home and loving parents who loved him unconditionally.
My son no longer curses at me. He tells me that he loves me and he expects me to respond with the same. He still has his “issues” but nothing like before. Thanks be to God.
I think that boys (especially) growing up today are very vulnerable. They need extra love and attention to keep them on the right track. You and Father are giving them the right foundation to live by.
Good luck finding your own vocabulary to share with your children to express your love of Jesus.
Yours in Christ,
Ginny
Love this post. Thanks for sharing!