Raise them in faith

By CHERYL CRUCE

My earliest memories of Sunday are of ruffled dresses and shiny black patent leather shoes with a side buckle. Mom and Dad would spend the morning tending to their brood of young ones and setting a table of cheese grits and homemade biscuits for breakfast. Amazingly, our parents were impeccably dressed as we loaded up in the 1965 Comet and drove to the church a short distance from home.
Lakeside Baptist Church consistently glistened with the look of fresh white paint. The stately old oaks that shaded the parking lot welcomed members and visitors alike. Each of us would make our way to the Sunday school classes until it was time for services in the sanctuary. The sanctuary was reverent and whisper quiet as friends greeted each other and families gathered together. The piano and the voices raised in song filled the building with a melody of joy.
Lakeside was my childhood church, the place where I learned of faith. I still have the Bible they presented to me in 1968. There is something special about those memories that linger in the recesses of my being, continuing to teach me. Today, when I see young ones in church, I wonder what memories they will gather from their childhood church. Will their memories sustain their faith in the years to come?
Recently, our young people came forward for a youth moment during services. After we shared a few moments speaking from the scripture, they returned to the congregation to be with their families. However, one precious child asked if she could stay a little longer. She remained by my side during the joys and concerns of the people. Then we sat on the step behind the altar as we prayed for the needs of the people. After this, she happily rejoined her family.
Scripture teaches us we are to raise a child in faith so that when they are old, they will remain in faith (Proverbs 22:6). We are also taught that we are not to anger or provoke our children to anger but raise them in love and the knowledge of God (Ephesians 6:4). Even so, we see a continuous trend of the absence of children and young families in our churches today. Our faith is more than tradition; it is our heritage. It is to be nurtured and passed down to our children.
There are so many theories tossed around about the downfall of society, and many of these may be correct. Nonetheless, at the core of each is the lack of instructions and faith we have neglected to give to our children. Our children are our legacy; our responsibility is to teach them the ways of scripture so their faith will be unshakable.
I often recall picture-perfect days of my youth when we went to church, even though I am sure they were anything but perfect. Our memories have a way of letting go of those unpleasantries of life. I know Sunday mornings will always be the most challenging morning as you get your family ready for church. Something will break, breakfast will burn, or some shirt will need pressing; that is the nature of the beast. Charles Swindoll said, “Each day of our lives, we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.” What deposits are we making today? Are we raising our children in faith?
Psalm 127:3-5 Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior, are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.

Cheryl Mixon-Cruce is Pastor of Ochlockonee Bay United Methodist Church and Sopchoppy United Methodist Church.