One of the first questions (rightly so) we get from folks who hear about our family’s move to Nepal centers around our children. Do your kids want to go? The follow up is almost guaranteed: Aren’t they going to miss being here?
And while the answer to the second question is pretty easily summed up (“Of course! We’re all going to miss certain things about home.”) that first question is usually a bit harder to explain. See, even before we were called to full-time ministry, our family culture reached far beyond the confines of the United States. We were purposeful in cultivating an appreciation for the entire menu of world cultures in our children. The next post in this series will delve into the how, but today, let’s look at the why.
1. Because God created the entire world, not just the United States. We live in a great country. There’s much here to admire, and even more to be thankful for. But we don’t have the market cornered on God’s blessing, or even on The Right Way to Do Things. Exposure to the larger world opens windows of rich discovery for our children. God made all sorts of people. He made amazing animals and landscapes. The US is a postage stamp sized sampling of a great work of art. Teach your kids to step back and drink in the full picture!
2. Because it’s hard to “make disciples of all nations” when you’re not even sure who those nations are. Every believer bears the burden of spreading the Gospel. For some, that command requires leaving home soil and traveling to those who need to hear the name of Jesus. For those families, clearly, a deeper understanding of God’s earth isn’t a luxury– it’s vital. But what if your mission field looks more like the corner playground, or the soccer field? A quick survey of nearly every community in the US, regardless of size, reveals a beautiful array of surnames from around the globe. Millers play with Nguyens. The Rosales family lives next door to the Dmitriyevs. The Al-Ahdals just joined your book club. God has brought the nations to our doorstep. How can your outreach to these folks be effective if you can’t appreciate them?
3. Because comparison can be a good thing. Our older kids are eternally grateful that they do not live in North Korea. They know enough about the oppression and sheer insanity of that country to know that God blessed them by selecting another location for their country of origin: one with freedom from a totalitarian regime that polices your every thought. This knowledge has helped them appreciate what they do have here in the US, as well as having made them a bit skeptical of “big government” in general– in a good way. The comparison things runs both ways, too. Each of the older kids can name specific things about specific countries that they “wish we had here.”
4. Because there’s plenty to learn from other cultures. Be it different forms of worship, incredible food, cautionary tales, the value of family, a respect for tradition … The list of take aways from studying the cultures of the globe are endless.
5. Because the world has never been smaller. While you or your child may never physically cross a border, your chances of interacting with someone far different from yourself are pretty much 100% in the current global climate. That neighborhood of nations I mentioned earlier? It’s real. Online forums, Facebook, gaming– these activities ignore man-made boundaries and create global communities.
6. Because you can’t fully appreciate someone’s story until you know where they come from. The world is full of brokenness mingled with joy. The old adage of walking a mile in someone’s shoes should be our goal when relating to those we have the privilege of sharing life with– even if that connection is brief.
7. Because it connects the dots. Learning about the history and events in other places weaves together the ends of the overarching story of God’s plan. Knowing who built the Taj Mahal and why isn’t just fodder for Jeopardy points. Putting the pieces of history in correct order points to Christ and the universal need for him– no matter what language you speak.
What other benefits do you see from giving children a global perspective?
Next we’ll look at how our family has taken this goal to heart, and put that goal into action. Finally, you’ll hear from one of our older kids as she shares how having a global perspective has impacted her life.
I think it’s great that you’re giving your children a global perspective. Some Christians tend to idolize their families, are very insular and do not reach out to others even in their own communities let alone outside their country of origin. My friend who is raising her boys with a spirit of servitude said it best: “Life is not about being entertained!”
Oh my goodness, yes. We couldn’t agree more!