Over the years, as I've aged, my opinions have varied but only recently I have felt them solidify into immovable pillars. It could simply be a natural evolution as a person moves towards the middle of their life. At any rate, my worldview has shifted considerably in the last decade.
Circumstances may have propelled me into cementing my ideologies before the birth of my child. My greatest wish for her is that she lives a life less ordinary. It frightens me to see so many people eagerly and mindlessly jump on board with the latest trends or Hollywood fads such as the recent Hunger Games phenomena or Harry Potter or Twilight, etc...Or how quickly they want to snap up the latest cellphones and gadgetry. My hope is that her world is not defined by well...things of this world.
I may be accused of being naive at this point. I realize she will still have to exist in this world. She will have to go to school, work, date, experience joy and pain. However, this is her temporary home as it is for all of us. Our forever home is with God.
Too many people, especially parents, neglect the forging of a relationship with God. They buy their children the best of everything, filling their rooms with items that will degrade over time. As I've been putting her room together I momentarily got caught up in wanting the most highly reviewed crib or the best stroller or car seat. Every parent wants the best for their child but I woke up somewhere along the line and realized that these items do not last. It's the morals that I, as parent, impart to her, that will last a lifetime and beyond. If properly set, her spiritual foundation will never decay.
As I look back on my own childhood, I recognize that, while my own parents were not perfect, they set examples that I have carried with me. My father chose to stop drinking and has been sober for over two decades. His choice made our family better and as the eldest it had a significant impact on me. It showed me that people are capable of turning aside from negative and destructive behavior.
My mother spoke out against religious cults. She would travel around to various churches and schools, highlighting the dangers of these organizations. At one point she spoke to over five hundred students. Watching this growing up, implanted the seeds of how powerful knowledge is and how it can be used in such harmful and beneficial ways. It is also why I feel it so necessary to censor not only my own mind but the mind of my child.
These lessons won't be found on any baby registry or in any store. No sum of money will be able to buy the items on this wishlist. I truly hope I will not falter in my quest for her to have a good relationship with God and to be more than the sum of the material goods that she owns. I feel incredibly blessed to have this time to write this for her. I know I will make mistakes as a parent. I know we will have disagreements and she'll go running to her dad because, let's face it, he'll be the fun one. :) I hope, when I'm upset, that I reread this and remember the promises that I made to her.
