A quote that I am pondering

I heard this quote on the radio the other day and had to write it down to think about later. I'm still pondering . . . here's the quote:

Raise children that make heaven rejoice and evil shudder.

As I've thought some about this quote, it really reminds me of what my priorities are as a parent. Yes, I want them to be well-educated and able to interact with others in social settings. I'd love to see them excel in the gifts that God has given them, whether that be in music or sports or the arts. I dream about what the future may hold for them in terms of marriage, ministry, career. But ultimately, none of those things are what matter most.

The deepest desire of my heart is to see my little ones grow to love their Savior more and more each day . . . that they will follow Him wholeheartedly and serve Him faithfully. I want them to be more focused on making a difference for the Kingdom of God than they are on making a living. So when things get busy and I feel overwhelmed with all that parenting entails, I want to come back to this quote and remember that my goal is to raise children that make heaven rejoice and evil shudder. As I concentrate on being purposeful this year, this is a good reminder.