By Janet Rowe
Psalm 127:3-4 tell us that children are a heritage of the LORD, they are a FRUIT of the womb, and they are a REWARD from the LORD. It goes on to say that children are like ARROWS in the hand of a mighty man (warrior).
LORD, we know that arrows must be carefully shaped and guided with great skill and strength so that when they are aimed in the right direction, they will land exactly where they are supposed to. And so, as parents, we must lead with a strong and steady hand, like that of a warrior. If we lead with unsteady hands, then we will pay a heavy price called “CONSEQUENCES.”
When there are lessons to be learned, then, LORD, let us not by-pass them. Let us be alert at all times, meaning that whether they are toddlers, teenagers, or young adults, help us to be on watch for signs of erosion. We know, LORD, how deadly the nature of erosion is. We know that it is SLOW, it is SUBTLE, and, LORD God, it is also silent—three deadly combinations that can easily go unnoticed.
Psalm 139:13–24 tells us that You knew our children even before they were born, so, LORD, we, the parents, need Your assistance to help us raise them into who You designed them to be. Help us, LORD, to FIGHT for our children’s return to You.
Give us the wisdom, LORD, to recognise from very early on that all children do not come in the same wrappings, so it will take different skills and techniques to remove the wrappings from each one of them.
LORD, remind us that IMPATIENCE is not a cheat sheet for us parents to use to get off the hook early when we are dealing with our children. LORD, neither can we be too busy with work or our phones or even flooding ourselves with different forms of activities that take us away for lengthy periods from the needs of our own children.
Remind us too, LORD, to heed the warning signs of TIREDNESS and be wise to take refuge in REST. It is never a good thing to give our children this tired piece of ourselves; it is not fair to them. If we do not heed the warning, then our home will simply become like a house of cards and eventually come crashing down.
LORD, when CONFRONTATIONS come, and there will be many, let us be wise and take them on—embracing and not running away from them is important and very necessary. Confrontations will help us to re-shape, re-direct, and save the lives of our children.
LORD, parenting is not an easy job, but teach us, LORD, to stand firm and stand our ground. We are not going to forfeit our right to LEAD our children, Lord; we are going to FIGHT.
Finally, LORD, when our children become adults, help us to use WISDOM and let them go. Remind us, LORD, that we are not losing them forever, and neither will they lose themselves forever. What we are doing, LORD, is letting them go so that they can find You.
Teach us, LORD, to fire these ARROWS in the right direction. Teach us, LORD, to cultivate these FRUITS of the womb so that they can become good fruit, and finally, LORD, teach us how to entrust these REWARDS to you…in Jesus’ name, I pray…Amen.