Gridlock

All of us see our children through a grid. A grid is the lens through which we see life. It is created by what we are taught, what we experience, our own study, the surrounding culture, input from mentors, and hopefully prayer and the Holy Spirit! Our grid determines how we behave in relationship to our children.

Do you see your children through the grid of them being a blessing from God? To answer this question, consider this: How does one treat blessings and gifts?

We read in Mark 10:16 that Jesus took the little children into His arms and blessed them. Do you bless your children and see that as a part of being Jesus to them? He said of little children, “the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Luke 18:16, NASB).

It is written in Matthew 18:6 (NASB) that Jesus also said, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck.” What would cause a little one to stumble? I think this could include attitudes as well as actions. Are any of those things part of our lives?

As in all great work, raising godly children requires so very much time, effort, work, fortitude, faith, and patience. But it is such an important work, as it will last throughout eternity.

His Promises

Children are a gift from the LORD;

they are a reward from him.

Children born to a young man

are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.

How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.

It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world.