“Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.”
Psalm 127:4-5
I was reminded recently that our own lives are the living example for what our own children witness and experience. How we react, live out and focus on reveals to them their perspective on life and the Lord. While we are here, we are called to live differently for the Lord, to be set apart. So, I began to wonder what life lessons, reactions, character traits am I not addressing in myself that is being absorbed by my children. Are they being crafted into arrows that will point them more to the things of the Lord, to do His will? Or are they absorbing more of the things of this world, that will lead them further from the Lord?
The Lord knew that our children would be great blessings to us. If we are pointing them to the Lord, then they are not only a great blessing to us but to others. On the other hand, if we do not point them to the Lord then the only other path is that of destruction. They will not see the goodness of the Lord. Our goal should be to lead them to the Lord, teach them His ways for their lives and watch as the Lord develops them exactly how He created them to be, a wonderful tool for His kingdom!
This is humbling and something that I am praying that the Lord will work in me, to create change in myself. I pray God will help me to lead my children to where He would have them to be. My children are on loan to me from the Lord, and that one day I will give an account for how I fashioned and developed His investment. Were the tools He lent to me used to do great things for Him or for the world? Am I living out His plans and purposes for my life or am I living for self? Am I seeing all the bad things as bad or as opportunities to show how God will use them for His good? Am I looking at the talents the Lord has placed within my children and helping them to see them as God does, a future for their good and His glory? With prayer and patience, I hope to see my arrows working for the Lord!