Rainbow Reflector Winter 2000

“Daddy, say you have a little girl that is a Christian, but her mommy and daddy aren’t?” I brace myself for what is setting up for a pretty depthy question from my little pig-tailed sage dressed in her flannels just before bedtime. “And let’s say that they ask her to do something that is wrong.”

My response is well thought out, just what you would expect from a guy that hears and attempts to make sense of tough issues from young people all the time. I reply, “Whoa Rachel, where did you hear anything like this?”

Her face wrinkles as she states matter of factly, “I just was thinking about it.”

I take a deep breath and tell her how God commands children to obey their parents and the need to honor them. I emphasize the need for prayer and the heart’s desire for God to intervene in these difficult situations. I want her to know that God is not blind in these incidents and that little girl’s actions will not go unnoticed.

She responds with a simple “Oh” as I glance at her Mother in amazement.

Robin states simply, “Did you expect to hear that from your six year old daughter?” I must say I was pleased to hear her challenging and thought provoking questions. After my little girls had thrown me my share of kisses from the old oak stairs and were safely tucked into bed for the night I continued to ponder the question and many others that children and young people have. These are important questions that need satisfying answers.

Generations of young people have sought out answers for life’s dilemma and too often they are met with the lacquer-coated solutions that when the surface is scratched the challenges remain. In my observations, they are not looking for perfection from people but rather a genuine response based upon a secure foundation. My quandary this evening gave no easy way out and I am still pondering my answer, but I am confident that basing my reply on the principles of God’s Word and an honest and sincere interest will give me the opportunity again to guide my daughter in her upbringing.

As we approach another camping season, I will say that tonight’s “question and answer” session whet my appetite for the many opportunities that we will share as ministry partners to around 400 kids this summer. We desire your prayers and if you have children that could attend camp, we would count it a privilege to minister to them. We know that raising kids in this sin-wracked world is as challenging as ever. The evil influences approach rapidly causing many questions that need “THE ANSWER”.

Jesus said it very clearly in John 14:6 when He stated, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”