What About Today?

Have you ever stopped in the middle of your day to ask yourself if Sunday is all Jesus gets from you?

One hour. Maybe a worship set and a sermon. And then Monday comes and He gets... what, exactly? Does He get the in-between stuff too? Does He get the in-the-moment, I-need-Jesus breaths when the day is falling apart, or just the polished version of you that shows up in a pew once a week?

Shouldn't He get more than that?

What about the "thank you, Jesus, for this home" breath as you walk in your front door after a long day? What about the whisper, "look at these beautiful kids I am growing, thank you Jesus," as you watch them play in the backyard, completely unaware you're even praying? Those moments count. Those moments are worship. And I think we forget that far too often.

Here's what I keep coming back to: how do we take everyday, ordinary things and turn them into worship to Him? And more importantly, how do we let our kids see us do it so they learn to do the same?

Because here's the world I want. I want kids walking around thanking Jesus for the privileged lives they get to live, instead of kids walking around making a list of what they want next. I want kids who are looking for ways to serve others and glorify Him in response to all He's given them, instead of kids who need a full day at home just to recover from all the fun they had. That second kind of tired isn't rest. It's the exhaustion of a life built around consuming experiences instead of giving thanks for them.

So which world do you actually want for your kids? And how do we lead them there?

It starts with you. And it can start today.

Take that Sunday praise, that Sunday reflection you feel for one hour a week, and stretch it into a whole week of thanks to our Heavenly Father and blessing toward others. Think less about yourself and more about others, and let your kids watch you do it. Model that mindset for them. Model the joy you feel when you're actually walking in relationship with Jesus, not the joy of Sunday morning roll call.

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." That's not a Sunday verse. That's a Tuesday-at-3pm-when-the-dishwasher-breaks verse too. Our kids need to see that faith isn't a building we visit, it's a breath we take. And if we only ever thank Him in the sanctuary, that's the only place our kids will learn to look for Him.

What about today? What's one ordinary moment in your day, right now, that you could turn into a whisper of thanks instead of letting it pass by unnoticed? Start there. Your kids are watching, and they will lead their own homes the exact same way you're leading yours right now.

1 Thessalonians 5:18