This seemingly endless season of campaigning is almost over. Only one more day, and it will all be behind us; that is, for this election. There will be many more in the future, which is why I think it critical to learn from my 7 year old son.
I currently live in East Texas. Within in the next couple of months we’ll be moving to the Phoenix area, but for now – and for the last 16 years – this is where my family has called home. It is a rural area, filled with farmers and others used to dealing with a 45 minute round-trip to pick up a Domino’s pizza since they won’t deliver this far out.
My wife and I vote at a local library/community center. With its creaking hardwood floors and deeply embedded smell of old white people, it is like stepping into the deep South from 50 years ago. Needless to say, the people that vote at this same facility are typically over the age of 104 60. Each time I walk in it feels as if I should be presenting a hot apple cobbler as the price for entry.
(This is where we vote. It is the Noonday Community Library)
Now that you can see it, smell it, and have a feel for it, what I am about to tell you will make much more sense.
Last week I went to vote early since I knew my trip to California would keep me from voting on election day. Two of my boys were with me, ages 5 & 7. Before we walked in I reminded them to be respectful, to talk softly, and to look people in the eyes when they talk to someone.
So we walk in, and get in a surprisingly long line to vote. It is quiet, as a library should be. We are in line right behind an elderly couple. The friendly old man turned around, looked at my son, and joked with me, “You sure are starting them early, aren’t ya?” I replied, “Yes sir. I’m teaching them about the freedom we have to pick our leaders.”
My 7 year old isn’t a jokester. He’s a thinker. Almost all of the time, he thinks before he speaks. Almost.
So he decides to blurt out – quite confidently – in the middle of this old, smelly library in East Texas, “Yes sir. I’m voting for Barack Obama.”
The old man looked at me and gasped. I thought his pacemaker was about to jump out of his chest. Could this boy be serious? Should he be spanked for what he just said? I looked at him, smiled, and just shrugged my shoulders.
I couldn’t help but think about my son’s comment for the next few days. We had never talked about specifics of the election, but we are teaching him greater lessons that apply to the election. I think there is much we can all take away from it:
- Do you believe God is Sovereign? If so, act like it. Why are so many of us up in arms thinking that if the “other” candidate is elected, all Hell will break loose? Take a deep breath. Remember, you are revealing to your kids just how sovereign your God is.
- Do you offer respect to people as a gift they don’t deserve? Some of you just love to quote your talk radio. It spews all-too-easily. You love to pass on the latest party quote and explain how true it is. The truth is, both candidates have their “warts.” Every candidate will. There is none perfect. Nope, not one.
- Are you teaching your kids how freedom isn’t free? Many military men and women have laid down their lives to make sure we could remain free. Voting is one way we can honor their sacrifice. Jesus laid down his life for us, to set us free. Voting provides a good opportunity to explain to your kids how freedom is costly.
- Are people that are different from you bad, or just different? We love to villainize people different than us. Kids will take this and run with it. What started off as belittling people who vote differently than you can quickly turn into making fun of the child with special needs at school.
My son likes to root for the winning team. When we are watching a game on ESPN, he looks at the score first, and then decides who he likes. Maybe this is why he said what he did about Barack Obama. He knows he is the president, so he is placing the vote for the “winning” candidate. Or, maybe he understands politics and has made a well-thought-through decision to place his vote for him. I don’t know.
Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.”
Psalm 146:3-10
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i just started following your blog a couple of weeks ago and greatly admired the values you seemed to have. I so admire someone that so openly supports foster care and also the loving and caring that you seemed to show for these innocent children that are so often abused and unloved. After this post I no longer feel this way and am also going to unsubscribe to your blog! How a “man of God” that so enjoys announcing his love for the innocent can support a man that feels it is perfectly fine for others to murder innocent unborn children is beyond me. And while I may not be the most political person around, I always taught my children the basic values….and for you to say you simply shrugged your shoulders at your childs “choice” is rather shocking and I no longer respect anything you have to say.
Thanks, Lisa, for your candid reply.
With all due respect, I don’t think you actually read the entire post.
I didn’t announce my support for either candidate in this post. My son is 7, so he’s not actually voting yet. I haven’t yet told him about the reality of abortion. That day will come, but it isn’t now.
For now, I have emphasized the honor and responsibility it is to pick a candidate, and that although I might feel really strongly about one over the other, my trust is in God alone.
Kevin,
Picturing this happen made me giggle to myself, I can imagine it playing out perfectly! :) Thank you for sharing, and being an example of what it looks like to instill respect and honor into a child when they are young. It’s a neat but terrifying reminder that every single aspect of your life will be watched by and followed by these children. Thank you!
Thanks, Lindsey. Yes, it was quite the sight to see.
I am discipling a man who is very passionate about the candidate that I did not vote for. It has made for fascinating conversation about what we are most passionate about.
Hi Kevin! I just wanted to say thanks for this post- I too giggled quite a bit thinking of a sweet seven year old little guy boldly proclaiming his thoughts. Sometimes I wish we all still had that innocence when it comes to politics- to be able to express our opinions and not be afraid of vitriolic responses.
I also very much appreciate your response to your son. What an amazing lesson to him- that he is allowed to form and express his opinions, knowing that you will respond lovingly and wisely- guiding him rather than forcing him to think one way or the other. As you say in your post, there are so many wonderful lessons to be learned in this rather funny and unexpected situation.
Thanks again!
Kevin,
Thanks for the post. It is a breath of fresh air to hear the rare voices who speak sanity into crazy seasons like this. I look forward to hearing more stories about how you lead your kids into this, especially as I am still in the early stages of parenthood.
Some of the questions I have been considering lately revolve around the ways in which I instruct while still creating space for my son to develop as a unique person with his own view of the world. It’s a big conversation, but I have been exploring things like: What if he adheres to a different political party? What if he joins a different church denomination? What if he chooses another religion? What if he’s gay?
Some of those are extreme examples, and I don’t have answers for the questions necessarily, but I do want to consider the idea that my role is to instruct my son in what it means to love and worship Jesus as Lord first. Then, there are a thousand conversations about peripheral issues that I hope I can handle with as much grace as you did in this story.
Looking forward to more,
Stephen
Creating space is key, Stephen.
We call it creating an “atmosphere of grace.”
Keep the main thing the main thing. Jesus is fully truth and fully grace. We want to raise our kids hearing the truth of Jesus found in the Scriptures, and at the same time experiencing the grace of God within our home.
This made me giggle a little as well. I wish you had a picture of the gentleman working the polls when that sweet 7 yo uttered those unexpected words. What a gift to let him express himself without condemnation from his Dad. It’s so important to keep the lines of communication open while we are still the greatest influence.
Blessings!
I agree, Traci. I’ve told parents for years that communication is key with kids. Talk about what they are interested in, what they love, and what is going on in their life. Even if the conversation isn’t spiritual, it is still good.
Kevin, I couldn’t agree more with the theme of your post. Unfortunately by my read of Facebook tonight, God’s sovereignty may be up for grabs unless a particular candidate by the name of Romney happens to win tomorrow’s election. I find myself a bit dismayed, especially during election season, at the extent to which believers criticize local, state, and national leaders who have been appointed by none other than God himself. We don’t have to vote for them, but we are instructed in Scripture to respect and pray for our leaders. If we only spent as much time evangelizing lost souls as we did watching Fox News, we might be surprised to see God move.
As Christians, it’s so tempting to get overly caught up in politics, as if somehow the right legislation will solve our moral crisis in the United States, Our problem however is predominantly a spiritual one. Believers spend far too much effort trying to confront our anti-Christian culture with political rather than spiritual solutions. The gospel is the ultimate antidote for our woes. As believers, we should be resting in complete peace tomorrow that God is in control and directing the outcome of this election, not us mere mortals (thankfully!).
John
This is so funny, as I just got off the phone with my mother – giving her the bad news that her youngest grand-daughter is a democrat. My 7 yr old told me today that they voted in her 1st grade class and that she voted for Barack Obama and not Mitten Romney.
I loved the part in your article about we are afraid of all hell breaking loose is our candidate doesn’t win. Remember when everyone though that Clinton was the antiChrist? He just doesn’t seem so bad, now.
I also agree with Lisa. Too many Christians are going around spouting “God is sovereign” after the election results. You wouldn’t tell the Jews in WWII going thru the Holocaust at the hands of the Germans – “God is sovereign. Get over it.” Now is not the time for empty platitudes in my opinion. This is a time to grieve. Grieve the tragedy is that a majority of Americans believe abortion is a woman’s right, homosexuality should be tolerated and encouraged, and people should not take responsibility for their own actions and lives but rely on the government. After grieving the fact that our nation is turning away from God, eventually you come to the conclusion that no matter what the circumstances, He is still in control. Don’t circumvent the process and throw out cheap one liners.