Raise A Child You Can Be Proud Of
You probably long for your children to grow up to be focused, forward thinking, and Jesus-following adults!
If you’re anything like me, you may feel concerned when you spot areas of weakness and sin in these young ones whom you love so much. You may fear that they may not be heading in the right direction.
I have no doubt that both you and I share the heart desire to release our children into adult life as pointed, effective, and world changing arrows (Psalm 127:4). But how can that vision be sharpened into a more specific description?
Raise A Child You Can Be Proud Of
I came across an incredible verse in Psalm 144 which contains some invaluable keys for us as parents.
May our sons in their youth
be like plants full grown,
our daughters like corner pillars
cut for the structure of a palace;Psalm 144:12
The metaphors which the Psalmist uses in this verse are very beautiful, specific, and practical for you and I as parents to keep before our eyes. These should be our end goal in raising the next generation.
Sons Like Plants
May our sons in their youth
be like plants full grown…Psalm 144:12a
We do not want our sons to be like weeds, undesirable or troublesome plants, and we certainly don’t want them to be like thorns, people who wound, annoy, or cause others discomfort.
We want the blessing of sons being like “plants full grown.”
We yearn to see our boys spiritually, emotionally, and mentally healthy; showing promise, eager to learn, respectful of others, bearing fruit, and glorifying God.
Interestingly, this verse states that the goal for our sons to be “plants full grown” is to occur “in their youth!” Youth refers to the time where our sons are still growing – and as they are growing physically, they should also be increasing in wisdom and growing strong in spirit.
This means that our sons should already be exhibiting this kind of behaviour while they are still under our roof. Needless to say, if our boys exhibit this maturity in their teen years, they will very likely take these same godly attitudes and attributes into their adult lives.
All this is so much easier said than done. The forces standing against our young men these days can almost feel insurmountable as a parent! Media, internet, porn, temptations of every kind, lust, evil, unsavoury company – you name it. Satan is going hard out to capture our dear, precious sons into His Kingdom.
He is throwing out every weapon imagineable to lure our boys onto the path that leads to destruction – the wide way that would entice them to waste their time, gifts, and potential, and ultimately, move them towards an eternal death.
I write this post with my own boys in mind, and if I dwell on the dangers that potentially face them in this world, not to mention the temptations that are thrown at them in their youth, I, too, can get anxious.
My dear friend, we dare not become lazy, complacent, or disheartened in actively instilling truth, vision, and courage into them. They need all the tools they can get to fight the good fight of faith!
With every drop of biblical conviction and moral uprightness you sow into your son’s heart, you are watering the plant of his life so that it can be become “full grown.”
Pray for your sons…
Daughters Like Pillars
May our… daughters [be] like corner pillars
cut for the structure of a palace;Psalm 144:12b
And just as you thought that you had a full time job cut out for you with your dear son, you may realise that you are called to have just as all-encompassing a vision for your beautiful daughter.
Your daughter is to be fashioned to be a graceful pillar – one upon which a building as beautiful as a palace can be upheld.
We desire to see our daughters being confident young ladies, filled with wisdom and discretion. We pray for them to be walking in the grace of the their Saviour, adorned with God’s Spirit which polishes those parts of them that are naturally rough.
We long for them to become young women who profess godliness, choosing to remain pure and consecrating their bodies as living sacrifices to the Lord, walking on the path of wisdom – embracing the Fear of the Lord.
As a mother of three daughters, I am grieved when I see how easily they can be drawn into dressing like the world, talking like the world, and walking like the world. I know the pull that is upon them to be admired by boys, to listen to sensual music, and to walk headlong into a lifestyle that will taint their purity, joy, and love for all things holy.
But in spite of these potential pitfalls and sins, I know that as parents, we need to have the end goal of our daughters being “like corner pillars, cut for the structure of a palace” ever before us. As those pillars are cut for that beautiful building, it may hurt, it may feel uncomfortable, and it may feel cramped. But the end result will stand glorified as it holds up the structure it was designed for.
My friend, let’s purpose to have laser-sharp focus and steel perseverance as parents, to raise our girls to be effective, strong, and Grace-filled pillars!
Pray for your daughters…
Oh what a holy duty is laid before you and I. The vision that we must keep ever before us would seem too daunting and overwhelming were it not for a God who equips, guides, and strengthens our hands for the task.
I pray that our Lord would be gracious to save each one of our children, not because they are worthy, but because of His endless grace and unfathomable mercy.
It is only in Him, to Him, and through Him, that we will be able to raise children we can be proud of, and more importantly, that would glorify His Great and Majestic Name on this earth.
What can you do less of, or more of as a parent from this day forward, to ensure that your son becomes a “plant full grown”, and your daughter a “corner pillar?” I’d love for you to post your comment for others to be inspired, too…
