In parenting, not everything can be in bold print.
We can’t emphasize EVERYTHING and have our children “get it” all. We just can’t.
- IF YOU’VE EVER SEEN SOMEONE WHO TYPES EVERY MESSAGE ON FACEBOOK IN ALL CAPS, you know it’s true. After a few sentences, your eyes glaze over. It’s too much to take in. It’s impossible to believe that it’s all as important as the capitalized print seems to indicate.
- If you clicked on this article and everything was bolded, the bolding would cease to mean anything, and would actually detract from the ability to take away one or two salient points.
- If you and I were talking, and I raised my voice to a loud yell, and proceeded to yellingly emphasize everything in our conversation over the next 45 minutes, you’d soon feel mentally overwhelmed and exhausted by the emphatic nature of my speech.
The same is true with the time we’re given with our children.
We can’t emphasize every possible “good” thing. During the years that they are under our authority and care, we can only BOLD certain things in their hearts and lives.
What’s BOLDED in your home?
- Music?
- Grades & academic performance?
- Classical education? (Or some other niche– a particular curriculum or style?)
- Sports?
- Cleanliness/order in the home?
- Literature and books?
- Character?
- Entertainment/TV/movies?
- Lockstep obedience/perfectionism?
- A certain style of eating or only certain foods?
- Humor?
- A particular doctrinal slant or unique/unusual conviction?
What is most highly prized?
Are you trying to BOLD everything in life?
Or, potentially worse, are you BOLDING the wrong things in life?
WHAT IS OF FIRST IMPORTANCE?
And more, what should be emphasized? Consider what Paul said was the most important thing he taught to those under his authority (from 1 Corinthians 15):
I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures
Is this– the Gospel of Jesus– what you deliver to your children “as of first importance?”
I have to tell you, this is convicting for me, and I want to do better at this… making Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection the very CORE thing… the thing of FIRST importance… the BOLDED truth in our home.
Not everything can be bolded, but the Gospel should be written in bold print across every Christian home.
I love this post! It’s so easy for me to feel overwhelmed with I think of ALL THE THINGS I could/should be potentially teaching my children. But I think every family has different priorities for what they choose to focus on so I’ve been thinking lately of what is most important to me to impart to my children. You’re so right though that the MOST important thing is making sure they hear about Jesus and His love. Feeling convicted about that for sure! You always make me think 🙂
Jess, I really appreciate this thought – thanks for sharing!
I just read yesterday on Dr. Dave Orrison’s blog the post at the following link: https://graceformyheart.wordpress.com/2015/05/26/the-duggar-thing/
I feel like it agrees 100% with what you’re saying here, but with a different slant. Thanks again!
In Christ,
Steph
Good stuff. Lately we’ve been “bolding” grace, grace and more grace. Full and free grace from Christ for our soul’s salvation, grace for our mistakes, learning to offer grace where criticism would be easier. And we learned there are 15 definitions for grace as well!
I’d like to know the 15 definitions for grace!
Me too, Rachel!!
She replied on Facebook–
“Straight from the dictionary…http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/grace
Cool thanks!