Absolutes

Well...Its Sunday night again.  I think Sunday night is turning into my blogging night.  I am sitting in the hallway outside of Emma's room so she can see me as she falls asleep so she doesn't get scared.  There are some nights when I don't really believe that she is scared, but here lately she has had a few bad dreams and they have affected her.  The other night she woke up and I had to lay beside her and hold her hand for what felt like forever.  I couldn't even turn my back to her, I had to lay facing her.  She kept asking me "are you sure there isn't anyone else in here?", "are you sure no one is going to get me?".  It was pitiful and I felt so sorry for her.  I hate for her to be scared like that.  Sooo... I am in the hallway sitting on her huge stuffed horse that she got for her birthday because the hardwood floor really isn't all that comfy and I'm drinking hot chocolate that Briggs made for me :).  Yes, he is awesome.

Anyway, I want to vent a little tonight.  I can hear this little voice inside me head saying "No Ashley, don't do it, people will be angry and they will think you are crazy".  The other voice "who cares, it needs to be said and I am crazy...so what". lol.  In all seriousness though, some things are very important to me and when they aren't important to other people, especially other people who say they are Christians, it bothers me.  I am not a perfect ANYTHING!  In fact most days I feel like a failure in parenting, in being a good wife, in being a good witness for the Lord, in my new business, etc, etc.  I have had my fair share of wrong roads taken and decisions I wish I could take back.  Like I said in my last blog, having Emma was a wake up call for me and I am thankful for her and for that everyday.  Some people are still waiting for their wake up call, and hopefully it's not too late when they get theirs.  Something I always try to remember is that Emma will live forever somewhere.  She will live forever in Heaven and I pray everyday for God to convict her heart until she comes to Him, or she will live forever in Hell.  Utimately, it will be her decision, but as a parent you have a great responsibility to teach your Children. The Bible says in Deuteronomy 6:6-9  "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shald bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates."  We are the teachers of our children.  We are the protectors of our homes.  We CAN filter what comes in and what comes out.  The more sheltered your kids are the more shocked they will be when they see sin. Whether you or your kids like it or not, there is black and white in this world. There are absolute wrongs and absolute rights.  Exposing your kids to the evils of this world is wrong.  Listening to music about partying all night, drinking beer and sex is wrong.  Watching tv with half naked women, cussing, drinking, sex, homosexuals is wrong.  Taking your kids to places that encourage sinful lifestyles is wrong. You may enjoy it.  Your kids may enjoy it, but its wrong and it will have a negative impact on your child's life.  We have to be a constant filter. I heard a quote the other day by David Frost. He said "Television is an invention that permits you to be entertained in your living room by people you wouldn’t have in your home." That statement convicts me. You are talking to someone who watched rated R movies every weekend and all of the filthy sitcoms on tv.  I didn't bat an eye at cussing, drinking, or nudity.  I was wrong. I am so thankful that we serve a merciful and gracious God, who gives second chances and forgives our sin.  I don't deserve that, but He gives it anyway.  With Children, you don't get second chances to raise them.  You can get forgiveness, but you only get one shot at each and every day.  Once something has been seen or heard you can't take it back.  I saw something on face book today and it did upset me and it has been what has spurred this blog post on.  I was disappointed in Christians.  I just want to scream "open you eyes, don't you see what you are doing to your kids??".  Our kids are the greatest blessing and responsibility that God has given us.  They are our ministry.
   Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it"
Just think about what comes in and out of your house that your children think you put your approval on.  Christians are to separate themselves from the world.  I know that a lot of times, people think peer pressure is just for teenagers, but adults have a hard time standing up for what's right too.  And most of the time it is because of pride and what other people will think.  I mean, we can't say No to that. What will other parents think?  Will our daughter or son be the laughingstock because his/her parents are too strict.  Do you think those are things that will matter in the end?.  Your little girl or boy will live forever...somewhere.  We all will.  Just think about that.  Don't you want to be able to say in your heart that you did the best job you could have possibly done.  Start with reading and praying.  The rest will fall into place. 
The world wants our kids.  They want our little girls to be bikini clad sex icons and our boys to be wimps who are controlled by the bikini clad sex icons. I want my little girl to show some modesty and class and serve the Lord and her family.  If I ever have a son, I want him to be God-fearing and wise enough to see past what the devil may put in front of him.