“Behold, children are a heritage
from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.” - Psalm 127:3
God formed each of us
individually, knitting us together in our mother’s womb. We are fearfully and
wonderfully made. Even before we were born, His eyes saw our unformed substance
and wrote the number of our days in His book (Psalm 139:13-16). I
learned as a young mother that when God gives us children, it is for a short
season of time. We are to dedicate them to Him as His children from the day of
their birth. He loans them to us to enjoy and then He wants us to release them
back to Him. We may think we know what is best for our children, but He reminds
us that He is their Heavenly Father and He knows what is truly best for them.
In the Bible
story of Moses his mother, Jochebed, built a bulrush basket, daubed it with slime and pitch
and put baby Moses inside. Pushing it into the flags growing by the river, she
sent her daughter Miriam to watch what happened. God immediately took control
and floated the basket toward Pharaoh’s daughter’s bathing place. Jochebed knew that if she kept her
son with her, the soldiers would surely kill him. She obeyed God and put her
son into God’s hands to do what was best for him. The wonderful plan God had
for Moses also included his mother. She was chosen as the baby’s nursemaid and
she watched him grow up in the palace as a privileged son of the Pharaoh’s
daughter (Exodus 2).
If we are not careful, we allow our will, purpose and
plans for our children to override God’s will for them. We have to remind our
self to pray for our children and to understand what His will, purpose and
reasons are for creating them. We need to teach our children that they each
have definite gifts and callings on their lives. We can cultivate, sustain and
build up those gifts and callings as we see them in our children’s lives. This
way they will grow up, not to live as we think they should or how they want to
live, but to fulfill God's will and direction for their lives.
When my daughter grew into a
young woman, she disowned me for sharing Jesus and Bible verses with her and
some of her friends. She felt that I was trying to convert them and was
offended with me. People ask me all the time how I can possibly deal with my
daughter’s rejection of me. I remind these caring people that humans have a
soul, but once we are born again, we also have a spirit. My soul – my mind, will and emotions – do miss fellowship with my only daughter.
However, my spirit rejoices
that she realizes my strong commitment to Christ and recognizes that I am not a
hypocrite. I know that one day she will be encouraged and strengthened by the
same convictions, which I cling to at this time in our life. Paul complimented
Timothy because he shared the same faith as his mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1:5). I look
forward to the day when my daughter enjoys the same faith in Christ that her
mother and grandmother do (2 Timothy
3:14-15).
God has a plan for each of our children. God fills our quiver with them and
then shows us in which direction to aim them as arrows into the future (Psalm 127:4-5; Proverbs 29:17). For the glory of God, we impart to them the wisdom of Biblical
precepts and knowledge (Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 4:9; 6:6-9). Then we surender them to His care and purpose for their life. God teaches
our children and imparts His peace into their lives (Isaiah 54:13). Ultimately, however, we must release them into His care,
protection, direction and provision (Psalm 127:3–5). Even though she does not
realize it, I know my daughter is safely tucked into the palm of God’s hand.
Prayer:
Father God, lead and guide my children by Your
Spirit. Teach me never to hug them too loosely or to tightly, so they will not
feel neglected or fearful when they grow beyond my nurture and care. Help them
to grow in Your wisdom and stature, in Your grace and knowledge, in Your
compassion and love. Draw them ever closer to Your heart as they serve You with
their lives in the profession and location in which You call them to function.
Help them to come to the saving knowledge of Your Son, Jesus, and to live in
full devotion to You. Allow their lives to testify of Your greatness and glory
to all of those who know them.
Thought for the Day:
"Train
up a child in the way he should go and in keeping with his individual gift or
bent, and when he is old he will not depart from it." - Proverbs 22:6
(Amplified Bible)