I haven’t been reading any more of For the Children’s Sake recently, largely because I’ve been chewing on a particular passage. I’ve held off on posting it because I’ve been hoping that something will come to me about it, but now I feel like I should go ahead and post it. I don’t have any brillant commentary to offer, but perhaps someone else out there would like to say something.

Sadly, our fast-moving generation is often so involved in the rat race that this gentle art of understanding, appreciating, and loving the child has a chance to practiced by mother, father, or anyone else. We have to set our priorities straight. Can we serve God’s lambs wholeheartedly while we are being consumed with career demands? When there is no parent who makes it his business to understand the individual child, and the people whose job it is to care for him treat him as part of their career, perhaps the only place where that child will find understanding is in the counselor’s office for one hour a week.

The Christian community is confronted by countless children whose parents do not fulfill their duty and privilege. It is our duty then, under God, to try to provide that considerate and loving authority which the child is lacking. We may not be able to provide a perfect substitute for the ideal of a caring family, but that shouldn’t stop us from doing something. Remember that even one stumbling-block removed from a child’s path counts. (For the Children’s Sake, p. 48-49, emphasis hers)

The first paragraph I get, and I completely agree with its sentiments. The second… well, I feel somewhat torn. I’m not sure how that is supposed to work. Part of me feels like I should just be trying to do the best job I can with my children and focus exclusively on them, because after all, they are my responsibility! But then again, I know that we are not supposed to just wall ourselves off, saying essentially, “well, I have mine so tough luck for the rest of you!” Somehow I don’t think Christ would be particularly impressed by that sentiment. But then again, I would loathe to be derelict in my duties as a mother to my children in trying to serve others. That certainly has been the failing of many (Pearl S. Buck’s parents comes immediately to mind) Obviously there needs to be some sort of balance there, but I have no idea what that balance is, or how I fit into this whole idea. I know right now I’m not doing much, if anything, to uphold this, and I’m trying to figure out what to do about that.

An Addendum - I’d like to say that I’ve been praying about this, but I haven’t.  I’ve just been thinking about it.  I know that this isn’t the best course of action…  but I think I’m scared to pray about it because of the answer I might get.   *sigh*