Most of us don’t realize that the very first theological framework we ever build isn’t constructed in a seminary or a church pew. It’s built around the kitchen table. Long before we learn to read a Bible, we learn to read the people raising us.
There is a stark, sometimes terrifying reality to how our human relationships define our spiritual imagination. Consider this incredibly candid reflection from a life spent working closely with families, from Ms. Francis Taylor who says -
"Just as I trusted my father to be there when I needed him, I trust God to be there. My father couldn't prevent disappointments or trouble from coming my way, neither can God. However, both fathers were there to see me through them, by my side all the way. God assures us that his love and his presence is everlasting. God is faithful even when we are not. I am well aware that not everyone has had a father's presence in their lives for so many different reasons. One of my grandsons was only 2 when his father died, and I am so proud of my daughter-in-law for letting him know that his father loved him. Some children have suffered at the hands of their parents, and this experience makes it difficult to trust God. When I would work with parents, I always reminded the Dad's that the first prayer most of us learn is the "Our Father" and that their children will judge God by their experience with their own father. I do realize that I was fortunate, and I encourage any men who read this to think about the connection their children will have between their behavior and God's. Even if you are not always able to be present, make sure that your children know of your love for them and that you have placed them under the protection of the Father".
Today, as parents, we have the profound privilege of rewriting the spiritual filter for the next generation.
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