I believe that the
reason why children are a reward from God is because children help us to
experientially know the heart of Father God like no other parable can.
Having children is compared to arrows in the hand of a warrior (Psalm
127.4). When you send an arrow out to hit its mark, you release it, and you
need to let go of it in order for it to fly towards its intended target.
Continuing the parable of life to enable you to know the heart of God better,
after you send out your arrows, it is you and your bride or bridegroom again.
The same is true spiritually. You
are given spiritual children that you
help along life’s road too. Training both your physical and your spiritual children helps you to know the heart of God
better. You stay connected to the Lord by seeking Him as you seek to train
those that are under your care.
For example, God’s
desire is to give us, His children, His power to work within us, and to
do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think
[infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]... God will generously provide all you
need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to
share with others (2 Cor 9.8 NLT).
As
parents, having been freely loved, we are free to love.[i] Having been forgiven much,
we are free to forgive.[ii] Having learned to follow,
we are equipped to lead.[iii] Having been given things
so freely, we are free to give.[iv] We are ready to look out
not only for ourselves, but also for the good of others,[v] as we sacrificially
demonstrate the love that God has for us.[vi]
When you release both your
physical or spiritual children, you
release them into the hands of God. You may see your arrows hit their mark. You
may experience the heart of the Father of the prodigal son as you watch wayward
children make mistakes and go down wrong roads. Through it all, you depend upon
the Lord and the parable of your life spurs you to connect and relate to your
Lord even more as you trust Him with the welfare of your most loved
possessions.
That is why no matter what you
sacrifice to raise children, they always give more back to you, because they
compel you to know the heart of God in an unselfish way that only a parent can
know. You begin to see that Human life is
as short-lived as grass… (Psalm 103.15), …but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his
life abides (remains) forever. (1 John 2.17) God has put a sense of eternity in people’s minds (Ecclesiastes 3.11). And
this is the real and eternal life: That
[we] know… [t]he one and only true God, [a]nd Jesus Christ… (John 17.3)
Don’t let the wise brag of
their wisdom. Don’t let heroes brag of their exploits. Don’t let the rich brag
of their riches. If you brag, brag of this and this only: That you understand
and know me. I’m GOD, and I act in loyal love. I do what’s right and set things
right and fair, and delight in those who do the same things. These are my
trademarks. (Jeremiah
9.23-24 MSG)
Excerpt from soon to be released book, How to Build Children With Integrity, by Karen Budzinski, © WestBow
Press and Karen Budzinski.
[i]
1 John 4
[ii]
Ephesians 4.32; Colossians 3.13; Matthew 18.21-35
[iii]
1 Corinthians 11.1
[iv]
Matthew 10.8
[v]
Philippians 2.4
[vi]
John 3.16; Romans 8.32
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