Them: “Don’t you know that song?”
Me: “No. Sorry, I only know a little country.”
Them: “Then what do you listen to! Gosh!”
Me: “Well, I listen to The Message on XM.”
Them: “What in the world is The Message?”
Me: “Christian music.”
Them: “Oh.”

Have you ever had this conversation? Sometimes, it can be uncomfortable. But other times, I really don’t care. I raised my kids on K-Love and I would like to think that is how the word of God got into their hearts…music.

Jay and I raised our kids reading them devotions at night, daily and nightly prayers, doing all the things Christian parents should do. All the while, never imagining how our lives would be 10 to 20 years down the road.

When Trey got his first phone (6^th grade – remember the flip phones that you had to push the numbers 20 times to just make a word?) there was no such thing as texting. Boy, have we come a long way. Once texting hit the scene, I went from putting notes in their lunch (which I’m sure Collin won’t remember) to texting them to say I was praying for them, scripture, or just HAVE A GOOD DAY! Sometimes, I would get OK or THANKS. Sometimes, no response. Collin did not have a phone at the time, but many times when I sent Trey scripture, his response would be – “Wow Mom! That’s so cool!” My heart would swell knowing all the years of radio and prayers had made a difference.

I still send Collin scripture, devotions, and recently the YouTube video of Big Daddy Weave’s Redeemed. Oddly enough, I actually questioned myself afterwards – “Why did I do that!” because you never want to push your child away. But the words pierced my soul, not only for myself, but for him and my family:

Seems like all I could see was the struggle
Haunted by ghosts that lived in my past
Bound up in shackles of all my failures
Wondering how long is this gonna last
Then you look at this prisoner and say to me
“Son, stop fighting a fight, its already been won”
I am redeemed, You set me free
So I’ll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain
That I’m not who I used to be
I am redeemed, I’m redeemed
All my life I have been called unworthy
Named by the voice of my shame and regret
But when I hear you whisper “Child, lift up your head”
I remember, oh God, You’re not done with me yet!

I say all this to say, don’t stop feeding your children, spouse, friend, anyone who needs to hear the word of God. I have to tell myself, it’s not my responsibility to make sure they listen to it or read it – only that I feed it to them when God prompts me.

Don’t give up! You might go years without a “Thanks” but one day, you’ll get that “HOW COOL” and you’ll know everything you have fed them, the Holy Spirit used to penetrate their heart.