Young children love the game, "King of the Mountain". It is an exciting game of seeking to reach the top of a pile of dirt (or something similar) by pushing other people down along the way. Though all effort is made to become the King, the glory is usually short-lived; everyone wants to be King!

    Unfortunately, this game often continues through life. In sports, in school, and then later on the job, the goal is often to reach the top and the strategy is to push others down. This is, however, the way of the world, not the way of God.

    Psalm 9 is a prayer of thanksgiving to the lord, the rightful King of the Mountain. Unlike our game, however, the Lord calls us up to sit beside him. He wants us to join him at the top and to reign with him. There is, however, one crucial pre-requisite: we must give up our desire to reign alone.

    As parents, therefore, our assignment is to constantly teach and model that the goal of life is not to be better than others, but to strive to join God on his mountain and bring others with us.

    P.S. There is plenty of room on top, so don’t push others down on the way, either!