I don't know how many of you have ever noticed the "Motivation for Moms" widget I have posted near the bottom of this page but today's quote reminded me of something the Elder Ephraim told us on a visit to St. Anthony's.

We were all discussing the way the world is changing so quickly, for the worst unfortunately, and how scary it is trying to raise our children properly in the Faith. So we were all asking what (other than pray unceasingly for them) we can do to strengthen our children. And he said,

"the two most important things you can give your children are their Orthodox Faith and their purity."

At the time it seemed like such a simple answer but once I was alone and I really started thinking about it, it is but it isn't, so simple. We have to safe-guard their hearts from everything impure. That's a whole lotta stuff these days! I know when we go to the mall, which isn't often anymore, Ace now turns his head away from the Victoria's Secret windows. I've never told him to do that, honestly I never drew attention to it. I figured I wouldn't bring things to his attention that he never noticed himself. I was amazed however that he knew that their display of half naked women posed in all kinds of strange positions was indecent. I was so happy but at the same time the enormous weight of my responsibility to his pure little soul fell heavily on my shoulders all at once again.

It's so easy to push things out of my mind by telling myself I have so much time but really I don't. He starts Pre-K in a few weeks and this part of his life at home with me is almost over. I can't help but feel like he isn't properly prepared, spiritually, for his entrance into the world.

So when I read this quote, it was yet another reminder to me that instead of spending this time on the computer I should be spending it nurturing the souls of my children...Lord have mercy on me.

Pray for purity in the hearts of your children, and the renewing of their spirit as the Psalmist wrote, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 51:10