This fall, I had the privilege of accompanying the Luverne Cardinal Marching Band as a chaperone to a couple competitions in neighboring communities. Even though my daughter rode on a different bus, I think she was glad to have me along. After weeks and weeks of hot summer sun and what seemed like endless 7AM rehearsals (for child and chauffer, a.k.a. mom) the band took the field and smoothly glided across the green grass in straight rows, unique formations, and dramatic sound. As the spectators sat and watched, I couldn’t help but feel excited and delighted to cheer from the sidelines as they paraded on and off the performance field. I still feel exhilarated inside just thinking about it!
For some of you, your joy is found in watching your child or grandchild catch the winning touchdown, dribble a basketball, run endless miles, show their 4-H steer, tickle the ivories… the list is endless, really. As a parent, encouraging our children to practice hard and be great at whatever they choose comes naturally. After endless trips to practices and events, we have the privilege to sit on the sideline cheering for our child to achieve all they can, and do what they love.
While reflecting on the excitement of a successful marching band season, I began to wonder if we encourage our children to participate at the same level in their spiritual life. Do we cheer from the sideline when they are actively working in God’s Kingdom right here on earth? Are we helping them practice? How about the “playbook”; do we encourage them daily to know and do the “plays” God illustrates for us in the scriptures? Or, has the math homework, hockey games, and after school jobs replaced that part of the cheering section? Perhaps we are satisfied if our children (and even ourselves) make it to church on Sunday morning, youth group on Sunday night and midweek during the week. That ought to be enough, right? After all, it seems silly to ask our children to read a spiritual book or do a Bible study outside of those times.
I was recently heavily convicted when reading through the gospel of Mark.
“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.” Mark 7:6b-7. I just sat there and looked at the black letters on the crisp white paper and asked, “Lord, is this me? Is this what we have made of your church?”
As a follower of Christ, a mom, and ministry coordinator of the children and youth here at ARC, this verse has weighed heavy on my heart the last several weeks. I want to be certain I am not blindly passing on traditions that are man-made and not of God himself. The programs and activities we participate in here at church are meant to make our lives saltier, not the only spiritual activity we partake of during the week. Each gathering of believers should be spent lifting each other up and celebrating the God-sized things He is doing in our lives. These gatherings are not meant to be our only time spent with our Creator during the week, as though it will be enough to sustain our relationship with Him.
May it never be said of ARC that we actively honored Gods with our lips, but not our hearts. May we all be life-long learners who are actively seeking God and cheering on our children, friends, and loved ones to do the same each and every day.
Becky Ossefoort