Parenting - Imprinting God's Character

I admit that sometimes what I read and what I see make me want to jump on my nearest soapbox and deliver my fiercest "what are you thinking" speech at the top of my lungs! But, then I realize I'd be wasting my breath! Who listens to a crazy person!

This week I read of some fabulous new technology for all those folks who want to give their children a head-start in their education and who also prefer to give birth to "calm" infants, ready to learn (New devices aim to help babies start learning before birth, Wichita Eagle, October 6, 2009). First, I have rarely seen a healthy infant who isn't born ready to learn; that's how God created us. Second, who deserves a "calm" infant! Babies are supposed to cry when they need and want something, and parents are supposed to respond appropriately so that over time, those babies learn to manage their needs independently (I think that's about the time when we send them off after they graduate from high school).

We seem to live in a time where our desire to "play God" is growing more apparent, and while our attempts to "be God" don't work, "playing God" with the development of our children scares me. Human beings are genuinely "fearfully and wonderfully made"; the human body is so magnificently complex that our tinkering with it, seemingly to enhance what God has already perfectly designed, is hubris of the most frightening kind.

Yet, we do have direction in how to influence the development of our children. Throughout the Bible, we are instructed to be "like Christ," to set the example for others, including our children, so they too will want to become followers of Christ. We are given a "best practice" through God's direction to the children of Israel to write His commandments on our own hearts and get them inside the hearts of our children; these are to be on-going "teachable moments" throughout every day, from sunup to sundown (Deuteronomy 6:7).

God made no mistakes when He designed the way we develop and learn - from conception to death. In fact, the reason we might be tempted to expose our unborn children to these new "teaching devices" is because from week 18 of their lives, they can hear mom's voice and activity going on inside and outside the womb. God made this possible for all kinds of reasons we and medical experts may or may not know, but we can be sure, there is divine purpose.

In John 10:27, Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." He follows this by saying that he gives his sheep eternal life, that they will never perish, and no one can snatch His sheep from Him (John 10:28-29).

If a shepherd starts to imprint the sound of his voice on sheep from the earliest possible moment so they will follow him, the implications for us as parents is evident. From the very beginning of the lives of our children, they should hear us praying; they should experience the sounds of what it means to be in God's presence and among His people. Once they are born, their learning curve zooms, and that's when we begin to tell them and show them every moment of every day who God is and how He loves them. Just as our Shepherd leaves His imprint upon us, we must develop a godly imprint upon our children so that when they are old enough to make their own decisions (or at least think they are old enough), they will listen to and obey that familiar voice (Proverbs 22:6).

Children do respond to their environments and to the voices of those around them before they are ever born. They are sponges, absorbing all kinds of experiences; they are "learning machines." If we want to give our children a real "edge" on life, let's plug them into Jesus earlier rather than later. Let's develop our own character so that we reflect Jesus to them, and let's imprint them with a desire to know Him from an early age. It's never too early to teach a child who Jesus is.

Lord, the way You have created us is truly amazing. Your intricate design is beyond our ability to comprehend and recreate. You are God, and we are not, and for that, I am ever grateful.

Thank you for giving us our children. Please place in our hearts an urgency to teach them who You are from a young age and lead them to a relationship with You.

Put in us an understanding of the critical role we play as parents, grandparents, and people in the lives of children in ensuring that they know You and that their "education" can't be left to "chance"; we must diligently lead them to You.

We ask for your wisdom and guidance as we grow in You and as we lead our children.

Thank You, Lord. Amen.

Parenting - The Care and Feeding of Sheep

In John 21, Jesus appears to his disciples while they are out fishing. They haven't caught anything, although they'd been at it all night. From the shore, Jesus suggests they cast their nets on the other side of the boat, which they do, and they catch so many fish they had to drag the net behind them to shore. When they arrive on the shore, Jesus has breakfast ready for them and invites them to, "Come and dine. (v. 12)"

While they are eating, Jesus asks Peter, "...do you truly love me more than these," to which Peter responded, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus then said to Peter, "Feed my lambs." This exchange between Jesus and Peter is repeated three times, with Peter becoming a bit more uncomfortable with each repetition.

The formerly brash, self-assured Peter is much more reserved in his proclamation of his love and seems a bit unsure of his abilities to fulfill successfully the charge that Jesus is giving. He’s still grieving his betrayal of Christ; yet, even though Peter was unsure of his ability to be faithful, Jesus knew otherwise. He called this fisherman to become a shepherd and feed sheep.

Throughout the Bible, we are compared to sheep and Jesus to our Shepherd. When Jesus asked Peter to feed His sheep, he was placing in Peter's care His children. This was no small calling; Peter, as well as any of us who have responsibility over others, was being commissioned to serve and to care for Jesus' flock. As parents, we are shepherds to our children.

A shepherd takes the care and keeping of his flock quite seriously. Psalm 23 talks of the Lord being our shepherd and how he cares for us, His sheep. In verse 4, David proclaims, "...your rod and your staff, they comfort me." This is a powerful image because the comfort from the rod and staff comes after much personal investment on the part of the shepherd.

A young shepherd carefully chooses and crafts his rod and staff; they are the essential tools of his trade and are designed to fit him. He then practices, learning to use his rod with great precision until it becomes like his "right arm." It is the symbol of strength, power, and authority in all serious situations. It's a tool used as a weapon against predators, for discipline, and for the sheep's welfare. When a wayward sheep wanders too close to danger, the shepherd throws the rod within range near enough to frighten the sheep back to the safety of the flock. He uses it to count the sheep and to examine them for any signs of injury or disease.

The staff is most often used to comfort the sheep by drawing them together. A shepherd will skillfully use the crook of the staff to lift a newborn lamb that's been separated from its mother and reunite them or use gentle pressure from the staff to guide the wandering sheep back onto a path of safety. And, when the sheep really get into messes, the staff is used to untangle them from thorns and brambles from which they can't free themselves or lift them back onto solid ground after falling off a cliff while chasing yet one more mouthful of grass.

Is it any wonder that David wrote that we are "...the sheep of his pasture"? How often do we wander off the beaten path chasing something that captures our attention and need God's rescue? How often do we unknowingly (or knowingly) encounter danger only to be protected by our Shepherd?

As parents, we are commissioned by God to shepherd our children. He's called us to "feed sheep." This is no small responsibility. We know it, just as Peter did, so we must rely on God's guidance to help us. He will teach us to use our "rod and staff" - His Word - with precision to lead our children along the safe path, to protect them, to discipline them, to comfort them, and to help them when they get entangled in dangerous situations. He will be our Shepherd and lead us in the way in which we should go.

Gentle Shepherd, thank you for guiding us, for leading us back onto the path of safety when we stray, for keeping us safe and for comforting us.

Lord, You’ve called us to be a shepherd to our children and to “feed” them. Please help us to follow your example and give us the wisdom to guide them in “paths of righteousness” and to protect them from all harm.

Thank you, Heavenly Father.

“A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23” by Phillip Keller