Being single, I used to give little thoughts about raising children, impacting them and leaving behind a legacy for them. This will be something that I think about when I get married and have children of my own.
Then I came to work in the church and Children’s Church fell under my portfolio. Right from the start, I was mindful that every child is an assignment from God. But from time to time, I will also wonder … so what if they are? and what will happen if I reject the assignment?
As I read Proverbs 22 during this season, I kept coming back to verse 6, which reads, Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.
No doubt the responsibility of training up a child is primarily the parents', yet there is a place where others can and must play in training these young lives. “Train up a child in the way he should go” implies that there is more than one way. The child can either take the wise or the foolish and shameful way. And I can influence him the way he goes!
Having accepted this assignment from God and doing all the right things including spending time with the child, loving her*, praying for her, disciplining her etc. Does it guarantee that she will turn out well and follow the way of the Lord all the days of her life? How can I be certain that my influence over her will always be good? What happens if my efforts do not produce godly children? [* her for girls and him for boys]
"... even when he is old he will not depart from it ..." At the end of the day, the question I need to ask is whether I can trust God that with all that I have invested, God will not let it to waste.
Children are gifts from God. While He entrusted them to me, He loves them and they first belong to Him. He graciously assigns them to me, knowing that through Him, I can be an influence to them. More importantly, He knows that through them, I will become the woman that God has intended me to be.
Jessica Ho
Then I came to work in the church and Children’s Church fell under my portfolio. Right from the start, I was mindful that every child is an assignment from God. But from time to time, I will also wonder … so what if they are? and what will happen if I reject the assignment?
As I read Proverbs 22 during this season, I kept coming back to verse 6, which reads, Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.
No doubt the responsibility of training up a child is primarily the parents', yet there is a place where others can and must play in training these young lives. “Train up a child in the way he should go” implies that there is more than one way. The child can either take the wise or the foolish and shameful way. And I can influence him the way he goes!
Having accepted this assignment from God and doing all the right things including spending time with the child, loving her*, praying for her, disciplining her etc. Does it guarantee that she will turn out well and follow the way of the Lord all the days of her life? How can I be certain that my influence over her will always be good? What happens if my efforts do not produce godly children? [* her for girls and him for boys]
"... even when he is old he will not depart from it ..." At the end of the day, the question I need to ask is whether I can trust God that with all that I have invested, God will not let it to waste.
Children are gifts from God. While He entrusted them to me, He loves them and they first belong to Him. He graciously assigns them to me, knowing that through Him, I can be an influence to them. More importantly, He knows that through them, I will become the woman that God has intended me to be.
Jessica Ho
