When I was just married, my husband’s faith was Anglican, myself Catholic. So understandably, things got interesting when we had kids. The question that surfaced: what faith would we pass on to our children?
Everyone has a different answer for this question, and there is certainly more than one right answer.
After a lot of debate – albeit, sometimes lively – we knew that for us, religion fell within the spectrum of things we should teach our kids: like math, reading, ethics, and science. In the end, we agreed it was more important to teach them something, rather than nothing. Or worse: a blend of ideologies that, under real scrutiny, wouldn’t match up.
In the end, we chose to raise them in the Catholic faith.
We find great joy as we encourage our little ones to analyze life through the lens of a Christian philosopher. It is incredible the questions and ideas that surface! And instantly, in what may seem incredulous to some, our faith is no longer reduced to a bland, unfeeling rulebook of moral codes. It is a living, breathing, way of life, that seeks to be light, love, and unity.
If you are on the fence about passing on your faith, whatever it may be, I say, go for it! You don’t have to be a spiritual guru either, because I am far from it!
All I know is that with so much brokenness in a world full of good and loving people, it can be pretty awesome for our little ones to live a vibrant spiritual life that reminds them what life is really about. One where they can intentionally seek and inspire faith, hope and love. One where they bravely live out their faith. And be OK with the critiques on the sidelines.
No one said a spiritual journey was easy. But it is certainly worth starting, even as a kid.
