Raising Our Children in the Faith

by Erik and Karla Lunsford

Following a recent bout of minor illness, we found ourselves working through a collection of mathematics worksheets, reading comprehension pages, and spelling lists with our first-grade daughter. We came to an exercise that asked about our family’s holiday traditions. Our daughter recalled that our family’s Christmas tradition is to go to church on Christmas Day. Thanks be to God.

Bringing little ones to church week after week is not always easy. In fact, at times, it is downright difficult. Has everyone had breakfast? Are my pants ironed? Where are my son’s dress shoes? They are lost again…

Reading devotions at home brings similar challenges. There is homework to be completed. Dinner dishes to be washed. Instruments to be practiced. Emails to be returned. The list goes on…

Yet, God has trusted these little souls to our care for their time here on earth. The psalmist tells us in Psalm 145:4, “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.” So, we teach them the faith at home. We read them the Bible. We point them to Christ at every opportunity. And we take them to our Lord’s house where our precious children can hear our faithful pastors preach the Word.

I think this is why we were overjoyed with our daughter’s homework answer. Our family’s teaching, our pastor’s preaching — despite the daily distractions — had commended Christ to her and made it obvious that He is the most important part of our holiday. As sinners, praise God that His Word and Spirit are working.

When our children were small, our pastor shared with us that for his family, God’s gifts come first on Christmas morning. No gift under a tree can compare with the gift of eternal life given freely to us through Christ’s death and resurrection. In whatever traditions we instill, that’s exactly the message we want to communicate and the faith we want to pass on.

Celebrate the Nativity of our Lord in God’s House. Hear His Word, which makes us holy. Receive the Sacrament and bring your children. Going to church is not leaving your family’s holiday behind. Tell them at home the reasons behind the traditions and make it your tradition not just on Christmas, but every Sunday. Let your week start with Divine Service and center your life on it. Center your children’s lives on it. Is there a greater gift you could give them?

Photo: LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford