(144) Missionary's moms/ Upbringing 8

 This morning I prayed for a young mother. She shared that she wanted to dedicate both her sons to God, should her boys be suitable, she would love for them to become missionaries when they grow up. While I do not want to discourage her, it is important to think through something that important. For pre-believers to hear about our God, we need to send out missionaries to unreached tribes. Where are we going to find missionary candidates? Who else can mould and train children better than their mothers?

Somewhere in 1993 another mother told God that she released her first born son to serve God. It would be an honour for her should he chooses to enter mission field. In 2001 mother and son went for a short-term mission in a neighbouring country. A few months ago, the young man received his personal call to mission. He knows to whom he would be sent, next week he will be starting his training. For him, it is to get hold of a qualification to enable him to enter his target country as a professional.

There is no safer ground than to be in the centre of God's view. It is easy to say that. It is quite another matter to send one's only son to a country where he could be killed for sharing his faith. Yet it is on the spilled martyr's blood that the Gospel advances. There is nothing wrong to bring up children to become medical doctors, lawyers, engineers and accountants. But it will make the world a better place if we bring up our children to become environmentalist, caring social workers, human rights activists, righteous politicians, police with integrity, millionaires with a soft spot for the poor ....

There exist a perfect plan for each person, and it was written before the person was born. If I fail in everything else, I would pledge my lifelong effort into enabling every one of my children to grow into that plan. I want my life to make a difference. I want my children to each shine in their chosen field and be blessings to others wherever they go. So far my eldest has chosen to be a language teacher. May he use his chosen vocation not just to earn a living, but to live such a life that would inspire those who come after him.