Stop God-hoarding and other such nonsense

This is the last in a series of three
I got tired of the title so I changed the title cause I can do that.

To re-cap.
I have had a month or five or 12 ...of I got nothins'
so I decided to sit down a make a list. Cause I can't live in nothin' forever.

I came up with six things.
Six things that I realized I had done right raising my four children.
Six things I don't regret.
Six things to share with you.

Here are the first three...   HERE
And follow this link for 4 and 5...  HERE

Here's the last one... plus a bonus (I'm obviously out of control)

6. I wasn't a God-hoarder... most of the time.

The intense love I have for Jesus, it's so huge. I just couldn't imagine not letting my kids know how true He is. How real He is. How relevant He is. How necessary He is for life, every day life.

So ...if you really believe it
If you have faith in God... make sure they, your littles, mids or bigs know what It is for you

Don't get all it's their choice to make
That, only comes out of the mouths of people who have not yet parented,
     or aunted (it's a thing) or mentored a teenager.

They'll make up their OWN mind.
You bet they will!

And you won't be able to stop the tatting or the piercing or the hair coloring or any other ing they can find.
Get over that.

I’m not talking about going to Mass twice a year or once a week.

I’m not talking about dropping your kids off at Temple
    or making sure they go to Bible club after school
    or a midweek service.
I’m not even talking about making sure they go to a Christian school
That you have a Bible verse hanging on your wall at home ... beautiful!
An awesome bumper sticker on your car (bumper stickers are stupid! - ooops, did I say that?)
Those things are not enough, my friend.

If what you believe in is worth your faith, or energy
If it's worth your passion and your love
Then why would you not let it ooze out of you so that your kid could absorb it?

Why wouldn't you talk about your Creator (remember this is my blog)?
Why wouldn't you direct conversation to be about Him?

And if I believe God is as great as He is... why would I be worried about sharing my doubts and concerns about Who He is or why something has happened or hasn't happened?

(See how I went from you to I?)

Either the Almighty is big enough or He's not.

(Listen up Kathy ...)

My life
My parenting and loving and living
It would be nothing without my relationship with God.

I'm not blowing smoke.
I'm not just saying words ... I'm truly, honestly absolutely void as a parent without God.

There are days, there have been weeks and even months where I thought I had it under control myself. I would get content in my seemingly brilliant parent skills.
Okay back up, that's never lasted months or weeks, but I've had some gosh-you're-an-amazing-mom days. Yay Kathy.

Which is okay when I give credit to the source of that Amazing.
We're all guilty of committing life-plagiarism.
Don't believe me?
Give it time.

So to go back to the original point

If my faith, my belief in God is true and I kept it tucked away private and personal then what good would it do anyone but myself.
- afraid my kids would roll their eyes
      so what
He is not a God to be hoarded.
Risk a little ...
Keep it authentic, honest
Not preachy

Make sure you know what you know... doubts and questions and all.
Then share what you know
Don't freak out over the doubts
Don't be a God-hoarder!

And finally
A Bonus for you ... my reader

Yay for bonus points!

* Don't be afraid of your kid
Don't be afraid of what their reaction might be when you say no.
or...  if you are afraid, it's okay
       no judging here, it is a very fearful thing some times,
Say it anyway.
No.

A recurring conversation with #2

Me: I only have one chance at this parenting thing. 
Wouldn't you rather that I erred on the side of a few too many no's? Wouldn't you rather that one day, when you're all parent-like yourself to be able to look back and say, "Mom, remember when you wouldn't let me ---?" Instead of "Mom, why in the world didn't you stop me."

#2: Ya, you're right.

You're welcome.