Last week’s blog entry originated from memories when we moved into our new home where we basically raised our two young children until they became adults and moved into lives of college classes, jobs, creating families of their own. Both their childhoods have provided me with many fond memories, especially conversations as their young minds absorbed information along with comprehending or catching examples that my husband and I were intentionally giving them –or by accident– to grow up loving, knowing and serving God. Ephesians 5:1 says “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.” (New Living Translation) What does folding laundry and royalty have to do with each other?…

My husband was gone for a weekend, attending a Christian men’s conference. At the time our daughter was 8 and our son, 4. On Saturday evening I found myself alone in our bedroom, folding clean laundry and using the bed as my place to stack the piles of clean clothes…sorting socks to match them….making four neat piles for each one’s clothes….a weekly chore that took a couple of days to stay ahead of the task. 

The kids were either playing in their room or watching a TV program while I performed my laundry duties. In the middle of folding yet another clean towel our four year old son Daniel came bouncing in and announced with no introduction or fanfare “Ya know, mom, dad is the king of the house?” Hmmm, I thought…where’d this come from? Where’s he headed with THIS conversation? 

Perhaps too flippantly I answered “Well, then I guess that makes me the queen”….picking up the next article of clothing to fold thinking he was finished talking. 

“Well, I see dad reading his bible and that makes him a better king.” Gulp. I almost missed the moment. I honestly don’t remember what happened next or if we talked further regarding his observation. All I do remember is being in awe of a spiritual a-ha moment that now–some 30 years later–is still embedded in my memories that serve as an example of “we never know exactly how much our children are ‘catching’ from our everyday routines. “A better king…..”

I also remember that I didn’t use Dan’s four year old observation as an opportunity to preach to him…to hammer down additional truths from the bible that we parents sometimes do in desperation and fear that our children will reject God’s existence and make decisions that affect their eternal lives…no, I also recall feeling very humbled…a blanket of warmth wrapped around my heart as I acknowledged that in the middle of a routine weekly chore, God chose to use a little boy conversation to show me that we were being effective parents–flaws and all.

“A better king….implying that spiritual maturity and growth happens when we meet with God, read the Bible, spend time in prayer. We don’t do it to earn gold stars from God–we do it to deepen our relationship with Him and pass on to our children an inheritance of faith birthed in a Perfect King–Jesus–King of Kings and Lord of Lords,  Who has made a way for all of us to choose following in His footsteps to become “better kings”….and even “queens”….members of a royal priesthood. 1 Peter 2: 9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His wonderful Light.” (New International Version)

P.S. In his own way now, our Daniel is becoming a “better king”, too. Just like his dad, like his grandfathers….like many in our families who came long before us…laying down a foundation of faith to be caught…taught…observed…sometimes with words and often with silent actions.