If I wasn't a Christian parent

Joan Martin

Dear Son:

I know you are upset with me when I refuse to allow you to do many of the things your friends enjoy. I hope you will understand some day that it is because I am a Christian. If I didn't care about your values, morals, soul and body, I would do things differently. I would:

* Encourage you to lie by signing illegal permission slips, and tell the school you were at home ill when you skipped classes.

* Agree that doing it because everyone else seems to be doing it, is okay.

* Hear you using God's name in vain without correcting you.

* Leave you to sleep on the Lord's Day and not insist you go to church.

* Go to bed and sleep, knowing you will be out till morning.

* Watch you destroy your body and not do my best to teach you what will probably happen.

* Teach you by example that materialism and winning are the most important goals in life.

* See or hear you returning evil for evil and say nothing.

* Allow you to show disrespect to your parents, teacher, pastor or anyone else.

* Give my acceptance to your living with a girl outside marriage.

I cannot expect you to be anything I am not, or refrain from adopting the words, actions and lifestyle I have lived before you. I know some day I shall stand before the Lord as your mother and give account for all I have done. I pray that your life will be one of my better accomplishments.

I will not stop loving you and praying for you, no matter how far away from God and your family you wander.

I love you,

Mom

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