Today I want to explain what children WILL do for you.
"Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord; and the fruit of the womb is his reward." Psa. 127:3
"Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers."Prov. 17:6
"Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 19:14
Not only are children the way we populate this earth, but there is something so wonderful about them that Jesus declares those qualities extend into heaven - his home. So why are they to be our crowning glory and what do they offer adults?
1. They will change the world. And because we have the ability to bend the reed in the direction of good, our job as parents becomes the most important thing we can do. Money, fame, good looks, popularity, achievements...none of those things will come close to the importance of raising children destined to change the world at large or their small portion of the world.
In our children we will find answers that comfort us about the future. I have trouble watching the news. I make myself watch so that I have an eye on the world. But it troubles my heart and I often finish a program with sadness.
I experienced a different America. I wish my grandchildren (whenever that comes) would inherit the strong America I loved. Yes, there were problems. But the majority of people were involved in Patriotism, Christianity, having close-knit traditional families and making the future better. We had hope in the future.
Too many older citizens are hopeless about America's future. They express that hopelessness by withdrawal and praying that Christ will come preventing the future they fear. That hopelessness has caused great apathy. They don't feel there's anything they can do.
There is plenty for all of us to do. Even one family can make a difference in the future.
Children are our hope for the future. How we raise them, what we promote in our homes, how we lead them to Christ and live the life before them as well as how we leave them with a desire to change their world - all will determine our futures. Children can and will change the world.
Let him sleep....for when he wakes, he will move mountains. --
Napoleon
Our job then is more important than anything a democratic candidate can say, more important that the president of your company and their dealings, more important than finding new oil -- raising a child that will continue to work for the good of all is more important than anything anyone anywhere could ever do!
Just knowing you are there keeps a smile in my heart.
2. Children are our ticket to see beauty and experience the world with awe. If an author wants to express pure joy or elation over something small, more times than not he will relate it to the eyes of a child. Children find wonder and beauty in the smallest creation. As in the play Peter Pan, parents who allow their children to help them see the wonders of the world - will have a ticket to pure joy and serenity.
In the 70's there was a psychologist that proclaimed a cure for the plague of depression and anxiety felt by high-pressured executives. His cure was to bring them to a huge camp in Switzerland for a month. He would dress them like children and required them to become a child for that month. They played tag and jumped rope. They took morning naps and afternoon naps. They sat in circles while listening to elementary stories. They were encouraged to scream, giggle, laugh, run and gaze at clouds. The cure was miraculous. The remaining problem was how to continue that feeling during a high-powered board meeting.
Let me play in the sunshine;
Let me sing for joy;
Let me grow in the light;
Let me splash in the rain,
and remember the days of childhood
forever.
Children can help you enjoy your world. Live your day to the best of your ability. But when you come home, take the time to see your child's world. If you allow it to penetrate your soul, you will find a peace like no other.
Explore your child's room from their vantage point. Crawl under a chair, squint into a matchbox car, press your nose against the window, use a straw to blow bubbles in the fish tank.....these actions will not only delight your child, but will bring more peace to your heart and restore your energy more than pushing back in a recliner. Tickle your child, chase them around the house, find a worm and watch it crawl, lie in the grass with your child resting on your tummy and ponder the love in your heart.
3. Children can help you see the simple solution. They may seem complicated because you are trying to figure out how to help them grow. But they are actually very simple. Mommy is mad. In their simplistic world the solution is obvious. Bring her some flowers. "Mommy always smiles when she gets flowers." Go pick some dandelions and the problem will be solved.
Mommy gets happy when I hug her. “Oh mommy, I love you so much.” XXX 000
There’s nothing wrong with me that a little ice cream won’t cure.
I was speaking at a conference and one brave Dad shared an experience. He told me that he had a terrible fight with his wife. He was sitting outside on a picnic table with his head in his hands. His son brought him a rose that had most of the petals missing and the stem was broken so it flopped in the child’s hand. “Here Daddy, take it to Mommy. It will be okay.” He smiled at this son and said, “I don’t think this will fix our problem. I don’t think a yard full of flowers will fix our problem.”
“Sure it will. Just give it to her and tell her you are so sorry and then give her a big hug and kiss and promise to be a good boy from now on.” He sniffed and wiped his nose. “It always works for me.”
The Dad took the broken flower to his wife, held it out and said. “I’m so sorry, I promise to be a good boy from now on.” He smiled, kissed his wife and waited. His son peeked from around his legs and coached his Mom. “You got to say okay. You told me that when someone says they are sorry, you gotta forgive them.”
The Dad smiled at me. I waited for him to continue. He finally grinned,“Of course it worked. When we have the love of a little child everything works.”
3. Children teach us to laugh and enjoy the world. Adults get so involved in the daily grind that we forget that the journey of life is supposed to be fun as well as productive.
The happiest moments of my life have been the few
which I have passed in the bosom of my family.
Thomas Jefferson
4.Children remind us to center on what’s really important in life. When we’ve had a horrible day at work and we feel like we are the lowest thing on the planet, how wonderful to come home to a family that is excited to see you. How wonderful to carry your burdens to your front door and have them immediately disappear when you hear your child yell, “Hi Daddy! I missed you!”
To know that you are his world. To know that in his eyes you are wonderful. Well….there’s just no greater joy than that!
HOME - is where they love
you!
I think it’s sad that so many parents have stopped promoting the joyous homecoming. We should all teach our children to listen for those footsteps and run to greet Mom or Dad when they come home.
So much of what is great has sprung from the closeness of family ties. --James M. Barrie, author of Peter Pan.
5. Children create years of wonderful memories. Knowing that you created a human being is wonderful. But the real joy for parents is watching that human being grow and mature.
“Nature never repeats herself, and the possibilities of one human soul will never be found in another.” -- Elizabath Cady StantonHow fantastic to know that you have created something that no one else will ever be able to do. This tiny human will never be duplicated. Even multiple births do not produce “exact” copies. Each child is different and with each new creation comes a flood of memories. If we are careful to build sweet memories - to take pictures of happy times, they will certainly comfort us through the bad times. And when we are old….well, let this 5 year old explain it.
“My grandma smacks her gums all the time. I think it’s because she’s chewing over all the good times she had when she was my age.”
Enjoy the uniqueness of your family. Don't throw away moments that you will cherish later in life and don't miss those moments by trading worry or stress for the love of your child.
Let me sum it up with a quote about children from Gerald Massey, Wooed and Won….“A sweet,
new blossom of Humanity,
Fresh fallen from
God’s own home
to flower on earth.”
God loves you,
Debbie
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