Going Deeper with the Message

Often when a child is born we celebrate the gift of a new life, but do we ever stop to ask ourselves how we can bless that child? What is the most important thing we can offer a child who arrives in our lives - security? Love? Acceptance? Faith?

According to the researcher George Barna the single most influential action a parent or grandparent can take to help their child develop faith in God is to deepen their own faith life. Parents and grandparents who want their children to have faith need to study scripture, wrestle with life's questions, and have an active prayer life, then they need to share what they are learning and experienceing with their children.

Today we read the story of Zachariah and the song he sings when his son John is named and dedicated at the temple. Zachariah had 9 long months of silence to deepen his faith in God and it shows in his words. He speaks of God's promises and how Zechariah sees them fulfilled in his own son - in this song he is laying a foundation for sharing his faith with his son.

Is there a child in your life you could share your faith with? Think about how you would like to start describing your journey with God.