My Temptation

Last night, Mark and I laid in bed talking and mourning over the shooting in Connecticut. My eyes filled with tears, as I realized the risk we are placing on our three children by bringing them into this broken world. Elementary schools, malls, movie theaters.....all places of death now.

I said, in a moment of weakness, "Did we make a mistake by having kids, and then exposing them to the sin and the hurt of this world?" My sweet husband, with his always positive attitude and God given wisdom reminded me, that is exactly the reason we SHOULD bring children into this world. And we should have more, and we should lead them to Christ, so that we can take back this fallen world. So that our family, our children, can be a light in the darkness. Because this world is so dark.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

- John 16:33

My temptation, is to hide. To stick my kids in the closet, to shelter them, and to do everything in my power to make sure they are never hurt or scared. But that isn't life. And that isn't the life that Jesus calls us to. They will suffer, they will hurt, and they will be scared. And they will learn to cling to the only Savior who can overcome this world. As I have learned, it is in my greatest times of hurt and suffering that I have to lean on Jesus the most.

We have to take risks. We have to be in the world and not of it.

 Francis Chan says it better than I can....