Karisa Rivera

“A house is built with walls and beams;
a home is made of love and dreams.”

I am a housekeeper – not a homemaker.

If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements,

but have not love,

my children learn cleanliness – not godliness.

If I scream at my children for every infraction,

and fault them for every mess they make,

but have not love,

my children become people-pleasers not obedient children.

Love leaves the dust in search of a child’s laugh.

Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window.

Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.

Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.

Love accepts the fact that I am the ever-present “mommy,”

the taxi-driver to every childhood event,

the counselor when my children fail or are hurt.

Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, and runs with the child,

then stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood.

Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection.

Now I glory in God’s perfection of my child.

All the projections I had for my house and my children

have faded away into insignificance,

And what remain are the memories of my kids.

Now there abides in my home scratches on most of the furniture,

dishes with missing place settings,

and bedroom walls full of stickers, posters and markings,

But the greatest of all is the Love

that permeates my relationships with my children.

Photo by ramoo76.

As a Christian, when I think about life I try to see the big picture.

God created the world and mankind.
Man sinned against God.
Man no longer has the privilage of fellowship with his Creator.
Out of love, God provided a bridge for man to get to Him.
Jesus became that bridge, when He defeated death at Calvary.
I have been made free through Christ.
I am saved to spend eternity with my Creator in a Perfect World, Heaven.

So remind me again, why am I still on earth?
Paul said that for him to live was Christ, for the benefit of the ministry (Phil. 1:21,22). So I must conclude, every day should be an opportunity to get closer to being like Christ. Loving others, serving, forgiving, gving, praying, worshiping God, obeying Him. But, why?

I find two importante reasons:

†That my life is used to help others find the love & hope that is only found in Christ
†That my life is an encouragement to all brothers and sisters to shine with Christ’s love & hope

 These are high and noble callings.

Photo by Brian Auer.

Be their friend. A real friend knows true feelings and passions. Determine to know your child’s.

Be part of their lives. It’s not just about knowing what they like. It’s about sharing the passion alonside them.

Be the one who teaches them about important things in life. Relationships. Career. Sex. Politics. Controversial issues, etc.

Share YOUR life with them. Involve them in everything that interests you.

Guide them. Without them even realizing it, children always need consistent guidance. A parent who has already traveled a road should take iniciative to lead and guide. Note: beware of becoming controlling.

Help them make God the only god in their lives. There is a need to continually help your children intentify and radically eliminate any idols in their lives.

Require a more disciplined lifestyle. When they are very young. When they are teenagers. When they are young adults. And as long as they live under your roof.