“
Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward (gift, blessing) from him” .
I have often read that children are a blessing from the Lord but I had never really thought about why - I was too busy raising them!
In the
Old Testament we read again and again how important children were to the family. In fact, women who couldn’t have children felt very defeated. Take Hannah for example - she couldn’t even eat she was so depressed about not having a child.
Today I would like to touch on different ways our children have been a blessing to Marvin and me:
The Wonder and Joy of BirthIt can be likened to the joy of spiritual birth. When I held our newborn babies in my arms for the first time there was a rush of love that flooded over me...the pain of the delivery was all but forgotten.
“A woman, when she gives birth to a child, has grief (anguish, agony), because her time has come. But when she is delivered of her child, she no longer remembers her pain (trouble, anguish), because she is glad that a man (a child, a human being) has been born into the world.”
The Daily Delight of Watching the Child Develop……waiting for the first
smile, hearing the first laugh, being delighted the first time they hold out their arms toward us.
The Pride and Joy When They Have Successful ExperiencesThose first tottering steps; saying a recitation in public for the first time; that first day of school (how tightly they held my hand or was it the other way around?); doing well in school, sports, music or any competitive events; graduation day; their wedding day; the day they have their first child. All of these bring great satisfaction to parents.
Children Bring Back the Sense of Wonder in a Person’s LifeKids carefully examine bugs,
flowers, frogs and clouds. There is the
fun of kneeling in the garden soil and planting seeds with them and then watching them check every day to see if “God has growed them yet.” It was so much
fun to get caught up with their excitement at Christmas and birthday parties. What a thrill to receive that first bouquet of dandelions or “made-in-school”
Mothers’ Day or Valentine’s card.
The Blessing of Being Used by God to Comfort Them When They HurtAt first it is kissing sore fingers or knees, but later it is comforting and helping them through broken relationships, sitting beside them and rubbing their back while they are crying their heart out because of seemingly insurmountable problems. And then it is experiencing God answer your plea for words of comfort and wisdom at the right time.
The Pleasure of Seeing God Change Impossible SituationsSometimes He does this in an instant but generally He does it in the course of time. Meanwhile, our patience has a chance to grow.
The Blessing of Having our Character DevelopedFor many years I thought I was training my
children but after a while I realized that God was using them to develop me. As parents, we learn perseverance and the meaning of total commitment. Most of the time, commitment to the child comes naturally, but there are times with each child when you simply have to cry to the Lord for love. There are many times when commitment to the child is an act of your will. You never give up on them because Christ doesn’t give up on you.
Another Blessing and Reward is
Launching Children Towards Independence and Seeing Them Live What They Learned From YouThis is difficult because they don’t need you in the same way anymore; at the same time, it can be tremendously rewarding to see them do some of the things you taught them. The way they keep house or decorate; the way they entertain; their spiritual disciplines; the way they raise their children. When you notice your adult
children following God, being involved in their church and tithing, you feel a glow of satisfaction that they have chosen the values you would have chosen for them.
Father, thank You for family. Thank You for the thrill of having children and for building our character through our children. Give us wisdom and unconditional love for the children You have entrusted to us.
