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On Wednesdays we are thrilled to fling open the doors to all of YOU! We love hearing your dreaming stories…the lessons you’ve learned, the roads you’ve walked, the dreams He’s planted in your hearts! Today we welcome Christy Pearce to this space! Using everyone’s favorite flip-top candy dispenser, she reminds us that learning and growing to become more like Christ is a process. Thank you for your words today, Christy!
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I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
3 John 1:4 (ESV)
“People really shouldn’t get married unless they are Christians” were the words I just heard straight from the mouth of my 10 year old daughter.
I was surprised to hear such a dogmatic statement from her, but I was also proud of Jesus for working in her little girl mind. I asked her why she came to that conclusion. She said, “Well didn’t you hear the vows Mommy? They were all promises about following God.”
She was listening at that wedding ceremony.
She listens a lot of the time, actually. So, I seized the moment. I decided I would listen to her this time. We had a great talk about God and His design for marriage. And by the end of it, I was so encouraged by her.
I decided right then I should lecture her a whole lot less and talk with her a whole lot more.
Flip-Top-Head-Christianity
So you know those PEZ dispensers, right? Those plastic candy holders which are basically a flip-top head of your favorite character on a stick? You put the candy in the stick part, and it is relatively easy to fill. When it runs out, all you do “fill ‘er up” by popping that head up and quickly shoving more into that thing!
I’ll admit, teaching my children truth has been not as easy as refilling a PEZ. It is one of my greatest challenges of parenting.
Most times, I am trying to pull a “fill ‘er up” maneuver on Emily. Sometimes, I just wish she had a flip-top head like a PEZ dispenser. I want to stuff her full to the brim with all the wisdom I have. I mean, that is what I am supposed to do as a parent, right??
And after I stuff her “full up” with Word, I want to see her go to work with it. But it isn’t that simple. It just doesn’t work that way for Emily–or for me.
Sanctification Wasn’t Built in a Day
It takes time for truth to take root in our hearts…a lifetime to be exact. (<====Tweet this.)
The growth in my own walk with Christ was (and is) a process. Sanctification happens moment by moment as we draw on the transforming truths we have learned.
And no one preacher or teacher brought me to where I am today. It was a process of a little here, and a little there…Though some who mentored me probably wished I had a “flip-top” head, too!
In the same way, I can’t expect to build a mature believer out of my child in one afternoon.
Instead, I need to trust the Spirit will lead and guide Emily to “press toward the mark,” in His perfect timing. She has to learn to hold her own spiritually. And though I may secretly wish for it, it isn’t reasonable to expect my sweet 10 year old little girl to have the walk of faith of a 25 year old.
So instead of trying to “stuff” as much as I can in her in one sitting, I am trying to see the value of the “moments.” They are all I really have anyway.
I will still teach Emily and train her to love the Lord, but I have shifted my tactic. I am going to embrace the “little, by little” process that God uses to draw us closer to Him.
And when she connects the dots of this Christian life and I see her start to put legs on her faith, I am going to cheer her on like a crazy soccer mom, and praise Jesus for the work He is doing in my little girl!!
Because I know that if she is walking in truth, it is because GOD gave it to her by His Spirit. (<====Tweet this.)
And no amount of “flip-top” filling by me can be better than that!
Photo Credit: gosheshe
Christy Pearce is a wife, stay at home Mommy of 3, writer and speaker. Her passion is to proclaim God’s truth and make Jesus known! While Christy admits that she is far from perfect, she desires that Christ would be preeminent in all she says (writes) and does. Her blog, Faith Like Dirty Diapers, was born out of God using every day events—even a diaper change—to strengthen her with words of life. She would also love to connect with you through Facebook and Twitter.
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Do you have a God-sized Dream story to tell? We’d love to have you share your journey with us!
Visit our Guest Post Submissions page to learn more!
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Alecia Simersky says
How ironic. I was thinking this same thing this morning, and then here is this post. I always worry if I’m doing enough to tell my kids about God and faith. Instead I need to trust God to grow the seeds that have been planted and stop acting/thinking like it all depends on me.
Thanks for a wonderful guest post!
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hjtfranz says
I love the analogy! I spend a lot of time trying to “fill ’em up.” It’s what we moms do. But, we sometimes forget that we have a lot of help in growing the seeds (hey, Alecia)! Timing is interesting. My son just did his first sermon of 12 minutes and will repeat it this weekend at Leadership Training in Christ (K.C.). He spoke about the parable of the sower as told in Luke. Wonderful post!
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Kristin Hill Taylor says
I love this perspective and analogy. So glad you’re sharing it here today!
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