May THE LORD Help You, Keep Your Promise

The next year Elkanah and his family went on their annual trip to offer a sacrifice to the Lord. ²² But Hannah did not go. She told her husband, “Wait until the boy is weaned. Then I will take him to the Tabernacle and leave him there with the Lord permanently.”

²³ “Whatever you think is best,” Elkanah agreed. “Stay here for now, and may the Lord help you keep your promise.” So she stayed home and nursed the boy until he was weaned.
²⁴ When the child was weaned, Hannah took him to the Tabernacle in Shiloh.   1Sam. 1:21-24

Hannah had been persistent with her prayers to GOD, desiring that she would bear a child.    God was gracious and blessed her to have a child and she praised him, and remembered her words in her prayer that she'd give the child back to God.   She being an honorable woman discussed with he husband Elkanah and he was supportive in keeping to the promise made to God.

Here's where MY THINKING GETS TWISTED:  During the year we have baby dedication/christening services and the parents get dressed up (in many cases) the kids are dressed up in white, they present their children back to God, and the church. We pray a prayer....and the parents get their certificates and they take their child home?  Hannah didn't take her son home.  SHE LEFT HIM THERE!  Now we don't know if she visited him, how often she visited him, or did they get to spend much time together after this but what we do know Is SHE LEFT HIM UNDER THE CARE OF ELI.    We, the parents that had our kids dedicated took our children home.   Now I know some of you are thinking RAY do you really think we should consider leaving our, my little............. at Calvary, Ark of Safety, Bethesda Temple, Harvester Christian, Lighthouse Community.....etc.  Maybe......or maybe not, but what I am saying is have you REALLY dedicated them to the teachings of YOUR CHURCH?  For instance, are your children in Youth Group?  Do you make it a point to make SURE THEY ARE SERVING GOD inside and outside the CHURCH?   Hannah as good of a woman she was, and it appears she really did have a heart for GOD, realized that ELI the priest was a better teacher than she......so are  you a better teacher than___________________ so much so that you RATIONALIZE (rational-lies)  why they aren't going to camp?  Why they don't participate in mission trips?   Why you don't wanna force_______________ on them? 

I know the scripture doesn't say that Samuel cried his eyes out or kicked and screamed being left with this complete stranger to him, but REALLY? 

 Naturally one can't help but realize that parenting is difficult and we as parents have to do what's best.   As a youth leader/youth pastor I've watched families get torn apart......because the parents never really gave their kids to God, but wanted God to intervene.   This is where you have to ask yourself who am I gonna trust: my child, myself, or my GOD (His Church)?     I wonder are you really keeping your promise to GIVE YOUR CHILD the benefits of CHRIST, A CHRISTIAN HOME (NEWSFLASH....A CHRISTIAN HOME is one where CHRIST ACTUALLY RESIDES.....not visits just on Holidays....He's welcomed in any room and he approves of the media library you cherish and He really delights in the family devotion time that you have), and ultimately to the CHURCH to CARE FOR. It's no doubt in my mind Hannah and Elkanah loved Samuel, they loved him so much that they gave Him to God.   The question I leave you with is, Do you love your son/daughter enough to give them back to God?  REALLY?  LGLP