“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
— Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NIV)
The Tug-of-War
Your child comes home from school and uses a slang word you don’t understand, or they push away a traditional dish, asking for the local snack their friends eat. You watch them navigate this new world with an ease you can only dream of, and your heart swells with pride.
But beneath the pride, a quiet panic simmers: Are they losing who they are?
This is the tightrope walk of the diaspora parent. We want our children to thrive in this new society, yet we desperately want them to hold onto the faith, values, and heritage we cherish. We fear that in gaining the West, they might lose their soul – or at least, the identity that connects them to us.
The Home Embassy
God gives us a timeless strategy in Deuteronomy 6. As the Israelites prepared to enter a land with foreign gods and strange customs, God didn’t tell them to build a wall. He told them to build a culture.
He says to “impress” His laws on the children. The Hebrew word implies engraving – an active, diligent work.
Your home must become an Embassy. Inside an embassy, the laws, language, and culture of the “home country” apply, regardless of the soil it sits on. When your children step through your front door, they should feel the atmosphere shift. They should taste the food, hear the prayers, and feel the respect that defines your Kingdom culture.
Roots and Wings
Your goal is not to raise a perfect replica of yourself. Your goal is to give them Roots (identity in Christ and their heritage) and Wings (the skills to succeed in their new land).
Don’t demonize the culture outside; equip them to navigate it. You are not failing because they are different from you. You are engaged in the holy, challenging work of raising a bridge-builder.
🛡️ The Diaspora Challenge
Action steps for your family today.
- The Tradition: Choose one specific cultural or faith tradition (a prayer, a proverb, a song, or a blessing).
- The Practice: This week, do not just do the tradition – explain the “Why.” Tell them, “We do this because in our family, we believe…”
- The Win: Catch them doing something “local” (like mastering a new word or skill) and praise them for it, showing you value their adaptability too.
🙏 A Prayer for Parents
Lord, I confess my fear that my children are drifting from me. I am scared they will lose the values I hold dear. Replace my anxiety with intentionality. Help me to make our home a place where Your truth is naturally spoken. Give my children deep roots in You, so they can flourish in this new land without losing their way. Amen.
This is Day 10 of The Diaspora Devotional series by Andrew Airahuobhor. [Get the full Collection Here]