A Vision for Our Children
After a dinner date with my husband, we walked into the Gershwin Theater to see Wicked and our eyes were immediately drawn to the stage. Not only because the whole room is designed for this, but also because of the audiences’ anticipation. The excitement was palpable. The stage, the lights, the sound, and the acoustics of the room: everything exuded excellence and intentionality toward one goal: to share a story.
I can imagine all the detailed decisions that went into it: first for the writer, then for the musicians, next for the stage designers, and then for the actors. These decisions could not have been made lightly. What is inspirational to me is the hard work, the ability to perform under pressure, the passion and love for what they do, and excellence that is shared and celebrated by so many. It’s inspirational! And this night at the Gershwin Theater was especially inspirational because we were introduced to Jessica Vosk. I knew that all the cast would be extremely talented, but Vosk blew us away and had me in awe with how she used her voice with vulnerability and passion! Not to mention, she is talent personified. It was a magical evening!
Here’s a small glimpse into what we experienced: Jessica Vosk Performance in Wicked, The Wizard and I
I share this to set a vision for us for this next generation. (By us, I am referring to ALL the adults in a child’s life, not only the parents.) We are making decisions, some hard and some easy, moment by moment and each of these decisions absolutely affect the adults our children will grow up to be. Whether we see it or not, we share with our children what is most important in not only what we tell them, but in our actions also. From the moment they let out their first cry, they are watching us and learning.
This K-drama called “Our Blues” has a woman named Min Seon, who struggles with depression. Her husband is divorcing her and asking for sole custody of their son on grounds for negligence. A child psychologist goes to Min Seon’s home to interview her for the case. The psychologist had already interviewed the husband and the child upon arrival.
The psychologist asks Min Seon, “who is your son to you?”
She responds, “He is my world. My everything, I cannot live without him.”
When the child was asked, “Who is your father to you?,” the child, about 5 years old answers, “Abba (father in Korean) is a friend.”
When asked about his mother, the child answers, “Umma (mother in Korean), is sick. She can’t play with me because she is sick.”
In his heartbreaking words, we can see an example of how even unintentional messages are sent to our children by our actions that are so different from what we actually want to relay. These can have devastating consequences. And conclusions are being drawn constantly by our children in every stage of their lives, conclusions that shape their worldview. Therefore, it is so important that we know what it is we want them to know and to teach them prayerfully, implicitly, and intentionally with excellence. And I’m not talking just in their toddler years or elementary years. And I’m not talking about wonderful accomplishments and achievements in their teen and young-adult years. I’m talking about things that will prove again and again to be true. Truth that will be life-giving for them when life’s sorrows knock the breath out of them, a life vest for them when they are destined to die and be a bondage to a life of sin, and life-giving even after death. What is it that you want for your children when they are grown? Let’s give them what is eternal and a hope for the here and now.
Your Story, Their Story
I remember the awful well-intended words of a woman when I miscarried our first baby, “it’s a horrible world we live in. It’s not a good time to bring a child into this world anyway.” I don’t know if she saw the pain and hurt in my eyes as she said the words to me, but I nodded to be polite. And this was 10+ years ago, before the pandemic. I wonder how many people feel this way now. Scientific America released an article in August of 2021, “The Pandemic Caused a Baby Bust, Not a Baby Boom.” The article discusses a decline in birth rates after the first wave in high income countries. This may show that people are thinking the same thing, “it’s not a good time to bring children into this world.” And how about other issues like racism, government, social media, and the environment.
In speaking about the earth John Audubon once said, “A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers, but borrowed from his children.” And I agree we should be preparing them for the world we borrowed from them.
What a mountain of challenges this next generation faces! We have our work cut out for us, but despite all these challenges, I picture us rallying together to raise up the children of this next generation in the Lord. I envision us setting an eternal goal for our children and making all of our decisions for our families based on this eternal goal, for our good and God’s glory. Surely, the stage we are setting for them to share the Good News to the world is a far greater story than Wicked or any other inspirational story or performance. I pray we will together set the stage with excellence for our children to be able to one day, as adults share their story of God’s faithfulness to those around them. I pray that this vision inspires you as well to share your story with your children and others. God has placed such a burden on my heart for you and our children. I pray that this place will be a safe one to come to and draw encouragement from.
I’d like to share one more Broadway song, to drive home this point about intention and excellence as parenting. Here is another performance from Dear Evan Hanson. Please take a moment to listen and read on to hear why I shared this song:
So Big, So Small from Dear Evan Hansen sung by Rachel Bay Jones
Evan’s mother is so aware of his hurt and her own hurt. She recognizes his greatest need and she has a solution, to be present. I’m inspired by her vulnerability, her confession of her shortcomings and her humility in it all. That in the fragility of the hurt and trauma of being abandoned, she was resolute to be present.
Similarly, we are so broken and our children are so broken. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) But we have a Savior who stands in our stead to fulfill the law, who died the substitutionary atoning death, who resurrected to set us free from sin and death and who will come again. Let’s be resolute in setting the stage for our children to share their story of faith to others, not because we are capable, but because we have a capable God who was resolute to save us through His Son. He is God with us, Immanuel resolute to keep us from falling.
My Goals for Become (Child)wise
To aid parents:
To prepare children in Biblical literacy. Deuteronomy 6:4-9
To prepare children to defend their faith when asked why they believe what they believe.. 1 Peter 3:15
To prepare children to become mature Christians with a living faith that is evident in their academic, church, family life and ultimately their work life as well. Colossians 3:23-24
Topics that I will discuss:
Setting the stage for . . .
Theological Anthropology–The Importance of knowing who God made us to be and how sin impacted us and how Jesus affects who we are. I will discuss why this is important for our children.
a Biblical Worldview and Apologetics
Good Habits (for the parents and child)
Meaningful Conversations
Preparing for Hard Topics: Gender, Sex, Science, Suffering
Biblical Literacy
Children who Love Others in a Self-Love World
Schedule
Meaningful Mondays
A Quick Thread Post as a reminder and encouragement towards our goal and a prayer as well.
Intentional Tuesdays
IG Post and Sneak Peek into Thursdays Post*
Winsome Water Wednesdays
IG Reel for Everyone* I absolutely love making and editing videos or reels. Lately, I’ve been making reels of our beautiful tulips in my humble garden and posting them on IG. It’s been reaching a huge audience and I love the thought of brightening someone’s day with some love and encouragement so that’s what this is all about. It’s also the day I water my plants, so I imagine my reels watering people's IG feeds and if the Gospel happens to reach their ears by being in connection to Becoming (Child)wise all the praise and glory to God.
Thursdays
Newsletters for free subscribers and for paid subscribers every other Thursday.
* Instagram handle is @becomingchildwise
The free subscription to Becoming (Child)wise will be discussing foundational truths from Scripture to help us set the stage for our children to bear witness to God’s goodness into the world.
The paid subscription will be focusing on practical ways to live out and apply the foundational truths we discuss and I will also be sharing our experiences with our children (with their permission only). So if the free subscription is like a show then the paid subscription is like a backstage pass.
If you happen to be hitting hard times, but would like a paid subscription, please reach out to me at becomingchildwise@gmail.com.
Until next time, I’ll save a seat at the table for you.