Kids And Mountain Top Moments with Jesus

                                                                                            - Photo by Sheila Beeson

On the heels of the Women's Retreat I'm left pondering my own "mountain top experiences with Jesus."  I've had some; so have you.   My personal "mountain top" list includes a number of "Camp Adventure" entries with my family.

For more than three decades I've spent at least one week each summer at Camp Adventure.  I've served as a counselor, cluster leader, worship leader, director and photographer.  I've mopped floors, performed injury triage and towed swamped canoes.  I've prayed, preached and counseled counselors.  I've loved it all.

When our children were still at home we took them camp.  They shared the adventures, the games and the thrills.  They grew up in the context of worship, praise and passion for Christ.  Each summer we took them with us to a "mountain top." 

Getting them up there required effort, money and time.  If you wonder what I mean by this, simply pick up a baby and bear full responsibility for moving it "up and the the right" for about 18 years.

Here's a summary of the price we paid to get our kids up to some mountain tops with us.... 

We gave them attention (so they felt our love and concern). Children need to be watched all the time, not just when they're shouting, "Watch me! Watch me!"  Come to think of it, silence should concern the parents of young children.  Silence demands inspection.

We gave them limits (so they didn't participate in the Camp as "campers" until they were old enough).  We believe children benefit from age-appropriate boundaries. It's a good thing for children to wait their turn.
We told our kids, "You can't drive yet." 
"You can't date yet." 
"You can't pierce your ears yet." 
"You can't have a cell phone yet."
"You can't have a BB gun yet." 
"You can't go to the school dance yet."   
"You can't wear make-up yet." 
"You can't let go of my hand while crossing the street yet." 
"You can't participate in camp as a camper until you are old enough to actually be registered as a camper."

We gave them space (kids are like fluids - they occupy the shape of their containers).  Children fill your space.  Everything from diaper bags, to cribs, to car seats, to sleeping bags, to clothes packed in suitcases...children fill all your available nooks and crannies.

We gave them opportunity to be inspired by real people, with real resolve to follow Jesus, (because "seeing" the faith lived out in the lives of fantastic, spirit-filled, fired-up young adults burns a vision for the Christian-life into their psyche).  Kids will have heroes.  Parents have opportunity, and responsibility, to put their children where they can see people worth emulating - up close and personal.  We exposed our kids to high-voltage radioactive Christ-followers and we often heard them say, "I want to like him!  I want to be like her!"  Getting kids around great people is a really, really good idea.

I miss my kids, but I have no regrets.  Sheila and I did everything we knew to do so they could have mountain top experiences with Jesus.  It was a lot of work, but Amber, Aaron and Angela were worth the effort.

Your kids are worth the effort too.

No doubt about it.

Proverbs 22:4-6 - Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life. In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares, but he who guards his soul stays far from them. Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

 

Comments

[Amber Cox]

Dad,
Thanks for this post. The effort you and mom put forth moving the three of us "up and to the right" every day and every year, year after year was so worth it for me. The decades our family served together at Camp Adventure are precious mountaintop memories for me and the boundaries you set helped me become a better decision-maker.
I love you dad.

[Angela Keim]

Dad,
You are so great!! I'm so glad that you and mom are my parents! You are always showing me how to be a better Christ follower, Camp was for sure some great memories and I will always cherish those time and the times we will continue to have there. YOUR THE BEST!! LOVE YA!
ANG

[Dan Vukmirovich]

Mark,
Thanks again for the great reminders of what you've taught us over the years. Camp is certainly special to our family as well. Thanks for the opportunity to serve along side of you. You've grown us by your example. We're better because of your life and legacy in so many ways.