It’s that time of year. The temperatures have FINALLY gotten above freezing and we can get out there and work in our flower beds and gardens. It is such a feeling of accomplishment to walk outside and see that the seeds that you had planted weeks ago in a seedling tray are growing and producing fruit.
We spend time watering, weeding, spraying, grooming and even picking bugs off our plants to keep our garden flourishing and producing delicious and nutritious food for our table. We know that we can’t just plant the seedlings and walk away. We have to nurture, protect, and even encourage our delicate little plants to achieve our goal.
As I was working in my garden yesterday I was reminded that raising kids is very similar to raising a garden. The watering, weeding, feeding, spraying and even picking bugs off of them needs to happen if we want to raise Godly children in a fallen world.
We need to “plant” our kids in an environment that produces the kind of fruit we want to see in them. What do they watch, read, listen to and what kind of fruit will it produce? Who do they hang around? What experiences or memories am I planting in my kids that will help them grow into godly adults?
We need to “water” and “feed” our children daily with the word of God. Do my kids see me reading the Bible, any other time than Sunday morning? Do I read the Bible to my kids regularly? Have I portrayed the Bible as a living book relevant even in today’s crazy world, or an ancient manuscript that was meant for others?
Sometimes we need to “weed” around our growing “seedlings”. As parents, we need to look around and see what activities, friends, or attitudes are holding our kids back from growing to their full potential. Maybe it’s a harmless video game that when your son plays, his attitude stinks. Maybe it is an attitude of defeat, low self-confidence, or egotism that needs to be weeded. Or maybe it is friends that are not going the same direction that you pray your children will go.
We spray our garden to protect it from harmful bugs or diseases. In the same way we need to “spray” our children with prayer to protect and guide them. We need to constantly pray for their health, mind, attitude, friends, future spouse, gifts, dreams, purpose and most importantly their faith.
Sometimes no matter how much we water, feed, or nurture, we walk out and see some nasty bug eating up our beautiful plants. It happens, and it’s up to us to pick them off and take actions to protect it from future attacks. Parenting older kids can feel this way at times. You see behaviors, habits, or attitudes that are trying to destroy the beautiful creature that God blessed you with and you go into panic mode trying to save your baby. Sometimes the only thing you can do is love them, pray fervently for them and be there if and when they need you.
As I think about my garden and kids, I realize that there is not an age or time where all this ends. Even as adults, we need to be planted, watered, fed, and sprayed just like our kids. Sometimes we think we are immune to the same influences that effect them in a negative fashion, but we are not. I challenge you to ask yourself these questions today.
Am I planted in soil that will produce the fruit that God wants me to?
Am I watering my soul daily with the word of God?
Is there any activity or attitude, that is holding me back, that I need to weed out of my life?
Do I talk to God like He is my best friend? Do I go to Him with all of my burdens and worries?
Do I have any “bugs” in my life that are destroying me or my family?
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