Our daughters take lots of pictures of our grandchildren – and I am so thankful!

First of all – they have much better cameras than we do. Our camera was given free to my husband at a workshop on using digital images in the classroom. (that’s why he signed up for the workshop and I must say that many images have appeared in our local paper of students photographed with that camera)

Secondly, our daughters have the subject matter close at hand. We enjoy seeing pictures of grandchildren – it does not matter what they are doing. Pictures do speak a thousand words.

Lastly, our daughters all show an ability to capture those rare moments without cropping off heads, without making the image appear microscopic, or without huge red eyes and blurred features. Their pictures are clearly focused.

Have you ever looked at blurred images? They cause you to blink, squint, and sometimes question your vision. Yet when an image is clearly focused, it is a pleasure to behold. Blurred images are hard to recognize and objects or people that are blurred can be mistaken for something or someone else. Blurred images can cause confusion – especially if the background is in focus and the main image is blurred. What is the point of the picture?

As parents we need to be clearly focused on what is most important in our child’s life. I remember a wise man, Jay Fesperman,  saying at a parent retreat we attended, “Our goal as Christian parents is to raise our children in such a way that it takes an act of their will to walk away from God.” That statement kept us clearly focused as parents. When questions of setting boundaries came up – we asked ourselves – “Will this lead our children toward a relationship with God?” If the answer was “no” we re-thought our plan. If a rule protected our children from harm or led them toward making responsible choices – we followed through in that area.

This clear vision kept us from wavering or following every parenting trend that came along. If we are clearly focused, we may run the risk of being called “narrow-minded”. A woman who has had an immeasurable impact on my spiritual life is Elizabeth Elliot. I once heard her say, ” We Christians have narrow vision because we are clearly focused.” Yes! Just as a photograph has impact because the photographer captured the subject matter purposefully, we will have positive impact as parents if we focus on a goal.

In Hebrews 12: 2-3 this principle is addressed.

2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.                   3 Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men,  so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

We are encouraged to “fix our eyes on Jesus” who is our model for life and Godliness. Even when we encounter opposition from others about our parenting decisions, if we are clearly focused on what God has called us to as parents, we must not grow weary and lose heart. God is faithful!!