Dedicating our own lives to...
Illustration
Dedicating our own lives to God is one thing. Dedicating someone else's life is a different
matter. People get all glassy-eyed at Hannah's giving her child, Samuel, into God's
service. They don't realize that today no one wants that done to them -- to be donated into
a holy child slavery.
A much better approach to one's children for God's sake was taken by Charlotte M. When each of her children was born, she vowed to pray for them five minutes a day. She vowed to take them regularly to worship. She vowed to listen carefully and to speak to them respectfully.
Did each of them grow to be a hero in the faith, an outstanding citizen, first in their classes? No. They're fine people, but that's not something that was either within Charlotte's power or in God's promise.
What came of those vows? As Charlotte met each of her children's friends, she related to them in the same, habitual way she'd grown into relating to her own children. Over the years some of her children's friends even called her "Mom." Did all of them become supreme examples of faith, hope, and love? No. But many did, because Charlotte realized she couldn't really dedicate a child to God in the sense of giving them into God's service; but, she could dedicate herself to serve God by loving children.
A much better approach to one's children for God's sake was taken by Charlotte M. When each of her children was born, she vowed to pray for them five minutes a day. She vowed to take them regularly to worship. She vowed to listen carefully and to speak to them respectfully.
Did each of them grow to be a hero in the faith, an outstanding citizen, first in their classes? No. They're fine people, but that's not something that was either within Charlotte's power or in God's promise.
What came of those vows? As Charlotte met each of her children's friends, she related to them in the same, habitual way she'd grown into relating to her own children. Over the years some of her children's friends even called her "Mom." Did all of them become supreme examples of faith, hope, and love? No. But many did, because Charlotte realized she couldn't really dedicate a child to God in the sense of giving them into God's service; but, she could dedicate herself to serve God by loving children.
