My view
nationwide aware of this command- ment in how they portray or treat one another? It seems that more often than not the worst construction is placed on everything an opponent is, says and does. God grant us a civil and honor-
able election. The Rev. Luverne A. Jacobson Wilsonville, Ore.
Marty on target What a breath of fresh air. I love Peter W. Marty’s column (August, page 3). And I was amazed to learn I’m not the only preacher who has recurring night- mares about not being able to find my way around when I’m doing pulpit
supply. The Rev. Jim Heinemeier Reno, Nev.
Praise for partnerships I find the article on ELCA seminary and college partnerships (August, page 30) exciting, encouraging and energizing. Many emerging trends invite further discussion and implementation. Thank
God for our colleges and seminaries. The Rev. Gerald W. Bauer Huron, Ohio
How about that Thanks for adopting our suggestion of earlier this year to bold the surname of deceased clergy listed in The Lutheran. We appreciate your positive and timely action—proving you really do read the letters.
Calvin Remmert Houston, Texas
Send “Letters” to: Letters to the Editor, The Lutheran, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631-4183; fax: 773-380- 2409; email
lutheran@thelutheran.org. Please include your name, city and state. Your letter will be considered for publication unless you state otherwise. The Lutheran publishes letters representa- tive of those received on a given subject. Be brief and limit your letter to a single topic. Letters may be edited for space and clarity. Letters must be signed, but a re- quest for anonymity will be honored if the subject matter is personally sensitive.
Boda is a member of the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Marietta, Ga. She spent 23 years as director of a world- wide customer sup- port organization and is now working toward a Master of Theological Studies at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, Atlanta.
By Karen Boda
Releasing a child of God Praying you’ve done enough
M
y daughter left home this fall to attend Furman Uni- versity in Greenville, S.C. I read many moons ago that to get a child to actually internalize something, you have to say it 1,000 times. You need to tell her 1,000 times to use a napkin and not her sleeve, to pick her under- wear up off the floor, and to make her bed every morning. If you don’t get to 1,000, the habit may not stick. Before our daughter left for college, my husband and
I tried to fill her head with all the parental advice that we could, hoping to hit 1,000 on the major items. Sure, we have worried about her cleanliness and her
manners. We have worried about her saying “thank you” and looking adults directly in the eye. We have worried about her kindness to her siblings and her study habits. But what about her relationship with God? Have we
focused as much on her faith as we have on her daily habits?
When our daughter was baptized, we promised to put
the Scriptures into her hands, to bring her to church, and to teach her the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed and the Ten Com- mandments. We promised to make sure she knew she was God’s child. And with God’s help, I can honestly say that we have
“My view” submis- sions should be 400 words on a societal event or issue or on issues in the life of the ELCA. All submis- sions are subject to editing. Send to: “My view, ” The Lutheran, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631; email: lutheran@
thelutheran.org; fax: 773-380-2409.
tried to do all these things. But will it stick? Have we said 1,000 personal prayers with her, or have too many of them been rote? Have we taken her to church 1,000 times and not only been physically present, but fully present in heart and mind? Have we modeled Christian giving 1,000 times, allowing her to experience the joy of giving to and serving others? Have we instilled in her not only knowledge of God, but a love for God? Have we prayed enough for her, and asked God to firmly take hold of her life?
After releasing our precious daughter into the world of
college, I pray that somewhere, deep inside of her, a seed has been planted and nurtured and loved. I pray that the seed will continue to grow, to strengthen and to deepen its roots, even when we are not there. I pray that God will take our efforts and turn them into something magnificent within her. And I pray that she will continue to embrace God in her
life, for God has already and will always embrace her. She is indeed a child of God.
September 2012 49
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