Mommy Monday ~ Be the first voice

Do you ever think about how many voices your kids hear in their lives?

I'm a lay-it-all-on-the-line kind of a person all the way around.
I'm all. Dude. Here's the line. And here's it all.

So when it comes to the voices my boys are hearing? I ain't no fool!
I know the ones that are competing with the sometimes still and quiet voice of God.
I know them.
I hear them myself!

They remind us that being committed isn't all that important.
I mean, unless it's something really important like your job. Ya know, making more money? Climbing that corporate ladder?
But I mean, let's not get carried away here.
Church every Sunday? I mean, is that really necessary?
I'm already a Christian so I'm going to heaven. The rest doesn't really matter.
And besides...it's my only day that I can go to the beach! duh! God will understand.
And the same goes for what I do with my time during the rest of the week, how much time I spend with God. And on and on.

And then the voices love to remind my boys that it truly is all about them.
I mean, parents can be so insensitive and just don't get what their needs are.
Things have changed since those old people were growing up anyways.

Of course there is the whole, whatever is good for you trick.
You know the one...anyone who dares say that there is an absolute right or wrong is so shallow and bigoted. I mean. I know I can follow my heart (gag) because it is, after all, all about me and my feelings.
I legit just saw this quote:
"Follow your heart regardless of what others tell you to do. It's how you feel at the end of the day that really matters."
Wait. What?

Moving on before I. go. off.

Here's my whole entire point.

Your children were given to you as a gift.
Not a gift to be taken lightly.
But a gift to be worked at. Yep, that's right.
Work.
And it's hard work, no denying that.
And with all of that is the responsibility to the one who gave them to you.

So at the end of the day.
I stand before God and explain to him what I have done with the gifts he gave me.

That's why I care so much about what voices my kids are hearing.
Don't misunderstand me.
My kids are free to make their own choices, and as they grow older they get more and more chances to make their own choices.
But it is still my responsibility to be the loudest, first voice they hear.

And when my heart and my mind have been saturated in the only absolute truth there is?
My loud, first voice is going to be telling them the truth.

Peeps. It's not always easy!
The truth is, we are told to love our enemies. We are told to treat others as we want to be treated.
There are times when I tell my boys that. And then they watch someone mistreat me and watch how I act out (or totally don't) what I just told them.
So there is the first voice they hear about a situation? And then the first act they see about a situation.

So I teach my kids what is going down.
I tell them that the majority of boys around them who are their age are looking at totally inappropriate stuff on their iPods, iPads, tv's, phones, whatever.
And then I tell them that it is not good that they do the same.
And then I tell them why.
Sure. They still ultimately make the choice for themselves.
And they know that they ultimately answer to God not just me and Adam for their decisions.

But still.
I will be the first voice.

What about you?
Are you being the first voice?

Silence is not a voice.

So if you choose not to talk about the uncomfortable topics?
Someone else will, and someone else is.
Don't let the other people be the first voice for your children.

Too much is at stake.

You. You be the first voice.
You be the loudest voice.
You be the strongest action.
You take responsibility for these incredible gifts you have been given.
You take the time to know what truth is for yourself, so you can accurately give the truth to them.

Now go be a loud voice.