One of the biggest challenges I have as a parent is one I originally thought would be a piece of cake: telling them about God. I remember my parents patiently reading us Bible stories and answering difficult questions in simple terms we could process easily in our minds. I remember distinctly having a conversation with my grandpa (a firm believer himself) when I was five.
"Grandpa, you are not allowed to love me more than God."
He pretended to be upset. "Not even the same?"
"No," I answered solemnly.
In this world of super heroes and technology, I sometimes find the concepts that seemed so simple far more difficult to explore. Like the day my son dressed up like Batman for kindergarten show and tell and took his Bat mobile. He was supposed to be showing the class what he wanted to be when he grew up.
On the way home, I told him and my three year old that Batman wasn't real.
A severe silence answered this announcement. Then my three-year promptly burst into tears.
I had never told them Batman did exist. But they were surrounded with figures, T.V. shows, books and movies portraying a character. In fact, they had more stuff with Batman featured in it then God.
I'm not saying superheroes are evil or that I'm never allowing them into my home again. But I did realize that day the importance of media in our children's lives, and how vital it is to have books, movies and other information about God surrounding them. Because I never want them to come up to me someday and say "If Batman isn't real, then God must be fake too."
"Grandpa, you are not allowed to love me more than God."
He pretended to be upset. "Not even the same?"
"No," I answered solemnly.
In this world of super heroes and technology, I sometimes find the concepts that seemed so simple far more difficult to explore. Like the day my son dressed up like Batman for kindergarten show and tell and took his Bat mobile. He was supposed to be showing the class what he wanted to be when he grew up.
On the way home, I told him and my three year old that Batman wasn't real.
A severe silence answered this announcement. Then my three-year promptly burst into tears.
I had never told them Batman did exist. But they were surrounded with figures, T.V. shows, books and movies portraying a character. In fact, they had more stuff with Batman featured in it then God.
I'm not saying superheroes are evil or that I'm never allowing them into my home again. But I did realize that day the importance of media in our children's lives, and how vital it is to have books, movies and other information about God surrounding them. Because I never want them to come up to me someday and say "If Batman isn't real, then God must be fake too."