Having not started my parenting journey with the specific goal of raising mighty warriors for Christ - much of my parenting choices I have had to back out of and re-group.  Specifically - FRIENDS.

We have limited choices in friends being a homeschool family in a relatively small town.  Further - a small town has a limited support group and we have had to go beyond the Christian Community for extracurricular activities, which some would say is a good thing, arguing that we should be the salt and the light.  However I do not agree that children are charged with this responsiblity and I have not bought into that argument to justify publc school.  So where did my thought process break down for extracurricular activities?  How did I get so off track?  Here is how - I worshiped at the alter of "girlfriends and sleepovers".  I didn't want my daughter to miss out on that experience  - eventhough that experience wasn't particularily rewarding or positively memorable for me. I wanted her to have friends and watched her for several years not have any.  When a few friends came along that were from good, although non-Christian families - I compromised.  I failed to trust God to meet my daughters needs and gave into peer pressure - even worse it wasn't my peers I caved in to - it was little girls and their mothers. 

So what would I do next time?  What do you do?  Do you go to dance class at the community center?  Do you make friends outside Church, Awana, Support Group, Family?  Do you have play-dates and sleepovers with non Christians?  How do you walk this delicate line? 

I'm seeking God - because I know ultimately He wants us to love those all around us and to be His love to those still lost.  So the answer I've sort of gotten - but not really fully sure yet is this.  We must invite them to our domain, our home, our churches, our playdates.  I know, some of you reading this are going "daaahhh!"  I don't know why this never clicked before - cause now I have some relationship issues to deal with.  Thankfully - my dear and smart daughter has sought my guidance - but I'm still so sad I did not protect her better.  My intentions  - do not match the results. 

Still worse - I think it was my selfishness that encouraged my daughter to invest time in and to "walk in the counsel" of non Christians.  I'm am not the sleepover mom - or even the playdate mom.  I have a lot of responsibilities and I don't like being responsible for other people's children.  I should have insisted that more time be spent together under my roof.  With four children here - it is always easier to send them to the "other" friends house.  You reap what you sow!  And this crop is bitter. 

I wanted to share this - just in case there is someone out there with children age five and six - wanting them to have friends.  Never compromise on Gods' word.  He has much to say about who we hang out with.  The little girls were innocent enough - but I didn't think about the young women they would grow into - nor the influence their parents might have on my child.  God does have something to say about every part of our lives - are we willing to listen?  Thankfully - when we fail to listen - He just waits - knowing we will call for reinforcements.  Well - my SOS has gone out.  And now I have three more children - I won't make the same mistake with.