Rear- to take care of and support to maturity.
My mother told me rearing children was the most important work I’d ever do. She stressed, “one raises flowers, and rears children.” She made me look it up. Either word sounded ok to me, the problem came in how to succeed. How was I to get them to maturity? At 27, I hardly felt mature myself!
On purpose or not- children catch whatever you have! Germs, languages, attitudes and habits- they’re little breeding grounds for new ideas. Everything they see and hear plants a seed- good or bad. That fruit will grow right in front of you or come out years later. Good seeds seem to take especially long germinating.
Nearly 30 years later, I see my seeds having taken root. What a blessing when the fruit is good. To have influence on a child for Jesus- by song or verse is a miracle. My kids are now teaching their own and this is what God was stressing in Deuteronomy 6:7
“and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up.”
Exposing little ones to God’s love and showing them how to love Him in return, this is the most important work my mom was talking about. My grand daughter drew a picture for me, Her mom wrote the quote, “Grandma loves God and trees.” That’s as much as she’s gleaned at 3, but someday I pray she’ll understand the why …and fall in love with God of her own will.
“Go into all the world, making disciples” starts at home. My spouse and each child are investments in God’s Kingdom. One seed at a time- planting patiently and trusting Him for good fruit to grow. -Anna
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