Get to

Friday January 4^th, Luke 2: 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."  Even Mary and Joseph wanted to keep a bit of a lid on Jesus’ spirituality.  It is no surprise to me when I find that it is the kids that are the ones that encourage their parents to go to worship more often than it is the parents that encourage the kids to go to worship.  In the area of Christian Education it is the kids that set the attendance records.  The common custom for many is to drop off the kids and go get a cup of coffee, or some shopping, or some other urgent task.  The trouble is that customs are often handed down.  The kids are not learning the custom of going to church, they are learning that when they are older they don’t attend Christian Education classes.  It turns the whole experience from a “get to” to a “have to” thing.  This new year, treat your children to the gift of “get to” rather than the burden of “have to.”  Join together as part of the “Family of God” and give the whole family the gift of spiritual growth.  Let God work in their hearts, and yours, without the interference.