Hilary Clinton was right

Brittany informed me today I hadn't blogged in awhile.  So decided it was time.  I have them floating in my head or scribbled down on paper I just haven't put one on the blog for awhile.


Hilary Clinton was right or at least partly right.  She said it takes a village to raise a child.  I think it takes a church to raise a child.  Or at least I see in my kids it took a church.

After spending a couple of days in Gatlinburg with our four kids (well our two kids, son-in-law, and future [11 days] daughter-in-law), I  realized how much I really enjoy spending time with all of them.  How fortunate I am.  I am thankful for the way they turned out - did you catch that?  I am THANKFUL for the way they turned out, not proud.  Don't get me wrong I am very proud of them.  But I am not proud in the way of, "look how great my kids turned out" or "Brett and I did a great job" proud.   I am just proud of the people they are.

Brett and I were so young and so inexperienced when we had Brittany and Chris.  There are times when I wonder how they even survived.  I mean literally how they survived.  We had no idea what we were doing, and add to that, we were living away from all of our family during that period of time.  So the church really did play a major part in their lives.

God really did bless us with so many people who helped "raise" them.

From very young ages they had wonderful  women in the nursery who loved on them.  Miss Louise who taught them very early on "Jesus loves you."  Women like Miss Jane who fed them cookies for two weeks solid during VBS.  All those great VBS helpers, Lou and Irlene, Helen and Hobert, people who just loved on them.

As they moved up to the children's area they had people like Miss Wrozier, and Ron and Pat Berger, who taught them about Daniel, David, Noah, and Joshua, Jesus and his ministry.  People who had their own busy lives, but were willing to build a strong, solid foundation, into the lives of our kids.  They had people like Lou Richardson who taught Chris and Adam respect for what church is.  Not just the building but the people.

And through all those years there were the Lunn's, Pastor and his wife, building in my kids right along with their own.  Jeff at church through sermons, and Jan, through all those musicals.  Teaching them about serving God through worship and song.  And not just at church, but also in their home, my kids spent so much time at their house with Amy and Adam.

Then as they got into youth they had awesome leaders.  People like Nancy, John and Elaine, Charlie and Judy, and Dennis.  People who made youth events, overnights, and retreats a place my kids wanted to be.  Yet, in the middle of the fun they were teaching and building life principles.  Principles about how to have a walk and a personal relationship with God.  They were learning on mission trips about how to love and give to others.

So, as I sat with my kids this weekend and I listened to Brittany tell great stories; an art learned at the feet of a master story teller.  And I listened to Chris question and analyze different situations; built from a confidence of debate, I was reminded and thankful for "the village" of people who helped Brett and I raise our kids.  THANK YOU to all of those mentioned above, and those many others who are not mentioned.

Proverbs 22:6 says "Raise up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it."

Thanks for reading.