Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday seasons. Like many families, we were gathered around the table for the celebration. Our family is probably not typical in that all our children are involved in full-time ministry. Their spouses are also active in their churches, using their gifts where appropriate. I am well aware of the fact that in many families, adult children not only are not involved in church, but have no desire to affiliate with a faith community. In some case adult children are even antagonistic toward organized religion.
When families are together it's easy to use the situation to get across the point that we are disappointed that our children have turned their back on their faith. In many cases our children grew up in the church, attending Sunday school and confirming their faith in their early teens. Perhaps they were involved in youth ministry and even went on mission trips or helped with vacation Bible school. Something happened somewhere along the line that caused them to add the church to the list of things that were not relevant to their lives. In such cases we might be moved to use the holiday gathering to deliver a message conveying our disappointment. Warning; here are some things we might not want to say:
"I sure wish you would go back to church."
"Are you ever going to get your children baptized?"
"We will be going to church Christmas Eve. You can meet us there... if you can remember the way."
The best way to approach the situation is to continue to be people of hope. Share your faith through your actions, not your words. And, unconditional love should rule the day. No matter what happens, your children are still your children. Love them for you they are, not who you would like them to be. Continue to pray for them, and ask the Holy Spirit to touch their lives.
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