Is It Worth the Commitment for My Kids?

This past spring our daughter took her first dance class that met every Wednesday in downtown Lexington. I have to be honest. Getting down there was a pain. As soon as I got home from work, we’d scarf down dinner and scramble to get her in her dance clothes and out the door. Traffic was unpredictable, and I found myself thinking what a relief it would be once we made it to the June recital and got a break.

But now that the recital has come and gone, I can tell you that the commitment was totally worth it. Emma grew in confidence, skill and in relationship with the other girls and her teacher all because of our consistency. Watching her on stage at the recital, I couldn’t believe how far she’d come in a few short months. If we hadn’t made her class a priority, she would have missed out on an incredible experience.
Anyone who’s ever played an instrument or a sport or studied their tail off to keep up their GPA, knows that good things come at a price. That price is commitment.
As great as dance class was for us, I want something more for my daughter than ballet skills. I want her to know God and to build significant spiritual friendships. This too is going to take commitment.

At Southland we offer every child, age three through fifth grade the chance to develop deep relationships in a Life Group that meets during their weekend service time. But to get the benefit of Life Groups for your child requires a commitment from you. You have to show up at the same service hour week after week for your child to get to know other kids and their leader. It’s that simple. You can’t expect them to build eternal relationships if you don’t put in the time.

For some parents this will be a no brainer. For others, your schedule just won’t permit it during this season. But I suspect for most of us, who fall somewhere in between, we just have to make a choice. Is it worth it to me for my child to experience real biblical community? Am I going to take them to church when I don’t feel like it? Will I attend a service time that may inconvenience me some weeks? In short, will I rearrange my life around the priority of my child’s spiritual life?
Tough choices, but I know for me, the payoff is totally worth it.