HAPPY MOTHERS'S DAY!
One of God's best gifts to Mothers (and Fathers): Children
There is joy, great joy, in children. They are meant by Almighty
God to be sources of blessing. Behold, children are a heritage
from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward (Ps. 127:3).
Mothers (and Fathers) know:
- Children are a joy from heaven. It is the Lord who honors the
marriage bed and the process of childbearing, and it is He
who brings about the miracle of birth. If you have ever been
present at the birth of a child, you know the event cannot be
explained in human terms. The greatest lessons to be learned
about life, love, purpose, meaning, and priority are to be
learned from children. God gave them to you not merely so you
could love, nurture, and teach them, but so they, in turn,
could be God's teachers to you.
- Children are special. Your children need to hear from you how
special they are, and they need to hear it in terms they
understand and believe. Parents need to be their children's
most eager cheerleaders and their most loyal champions.
- Children need boundaries. They want to know what the limits -
or rules of living - are, and if you are serious about
enforcing them (that's why they test you). "Strictness" is a
way of showing your children how much you love them. Studies
have shown that children who have been reared by strict
parents possessed high self-esteem, were high achievers
socially and academically.
- Children are fun. In spite of all the negative aspects of
child-rearing, children make you laugh. They teach you about
silliness, fun, and pure joy.
- Children long to see the real you. They need to hear you say
I'm sorry, or I blew it, or I'm scared. Admit your human
inadequacies to them, and in the process show them how to
deal with disappointment, fear, or mistakes.
- Children want to share ideas. When you expose them to an
intellectual life beyond the routines of a busy household,
they will see you are treating them as valuable people.
Children need to verbally interact with their parents on
issues other than discipline, clothes, food, and other
mundane things.
- Children need encouragement. Parents need to let their
children know that they can go further than they dream. God
invites you to challenge your sons and daughters to look
beyond where they are now to imagine a broader, richer, and
greater future. You can help promote in them a sense that
they can achieve the greatest possible good in their lives.
- Children need physical expression. Every child needs hugs,
regardless of his or her age. When you draw near to your
children, and express your emotion in hugs and tears without
fear of rejection, then your children will enjoy the greatest
security they can ever know.
- Children require patience. It takes a lot of patience to be a
parent. God can use the hard experiences of life to enable
you to love your children in a way you otherwise couldn't.
Getting through hard times with your children can strengthen
your relationship with them.
Dr. David Jeremiah has been senior pastor of Shadow
Mountain Community Church in San Diego for 20 years
and is chancellor of Christian Heritage College. His
national radio program, Turning Point, is heard on
more than 900 outlets across the country. He is the
author of a dozen books, and he and his wife, Donna,
have four children, two of them married, and one
grandchild.
From Gifts from God by David Jeremiah, copyright (c)
1999. Used by permission of Chariot Victor
Publishing, a division of Cook Communications,
Colorado Springs, Colo., 1-800-437-4337.
© 1997 vinebranch@hotmail.com
This page hosted by 
Get your own Free Home Page