"Remember now your creator in the days of your youth. before the difficult days come and the years draw near when you say, "I have no pleasure in them." Ecclesiastics 12:2

My prayer for my children is that they will someday see the greater picture. Youth often live life for the moment. They feel indestructable. They feel their whole lifes are ahead of them and they need to have as much fun as possible. I love to see my kids enjoy life in good, healthy ways. I just pray for their protection against the powers and principalities of darkness. I whole heartedly believe there are evil influences trying to rob us of our souls. The Bible says "We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6 :12. "For the theif cometh but for to steal, and to kill and to destroy...." John 10:10. I think these evil influences come in many forms, in some music, in the media, in drugs, in cults and occults such as Wicca, even sometimes churches. There are churches that appear to tell a form of the truth but in reality tell a lie. These churches believe that we make our own truth, or that we pick and chose what we believe of the Bible. This is a form of spiritual depravity that will steal one's soul. I told Kevin recently that there is such a bigger picture out there as to why I don't want him to go to "Ozz Fest" or not. I have my parental reasons to not let him go such as the drinking, the drugs, the mayhem but far greater is the spiritual influence of the music/musicians. No matter how great a musician is, if he promotes anger, violence, immortality his music is "worthless". The big picture is "What do I want Kevin to pattern his life after?" And it is not after a rock musician with bigger problems than one could imagine. I want him to be a man with a belief in not just "a greater power", but in the greater power. The one who sacrificed His life for us to "...have life and have it more abundantly." also John 10:10. I want my children to not find their own ways but to seek God's way. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and he will direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5&6
A friend of mine called today to tell me her son accepted Christ in his life. I am so happy for them. She said it is evident there is a change in his life. She says he just sounds happier. He is 22 and I'm sure he spent some of his life doing his own thing but God had a greater plan for him. I believe that God has a plan for each of my kids. He will not give up on them and neither do I. While Jess lived at home I tried my hardest to guide her. I am trying to do the same with Kevin. We are sometimes at odds. He does make his own choices but I am still trying to guide him. I am not afraid to say uncomfortable things to him if they might make him think of his actions. As adults we get to make our own decisions. I've certainly never wanted someone telling me how to live my life. At times I've even not wanted to listen to God's word and tried to ignore it. I've learn mostly from experience. Of course I don't want any of my kids struggling but sometimes that is how we learn our greatest lessons. It is hard to watch sometimes but I trust that God has a greater purpose. "And what doesn't kill us only makes us stronger", I've heard said. God accepts us and patiently waits for us to need Him.
I am happy that I have Erik, still young and tender hearted. The teenage years will rip your heart out and Erik has help me keep my sanity. Roger is a great support system too. Lately Erik and I have been getting up at 5am when Roger goes to work. We walk 2 miles, then read a devotion, have a prayer, then read a book together. We have lots of good talks on our walks and have gotten really close. I thank God that Erik has the opportunity to know God from a youth and I hope that Roger and I have grown as parents, at least in example.