2 Kings 13-14
John 2
“People were bringing little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them...” Mark 10:13
As a parent, it is difficult to let go of our child. Especially for mothers, most just want to take care of their children for the rest of their life. But this is not something that we should do. We need to let go of our children and allow them to find their own way to God. Some of
us may want to accompany them all the way, but we cannot and must not do it. There comes a point when we need to let them go. Wise parents let go of their children gradually so that the child does not have to kick and scream to set themselves free.
Parents have a limit. We do not meet every need of the child and, therefore, they need to look beyond us. Wise parents know their limit and allow the child to be gathered out of their arms and into the arms of the Good Shepherd. We let them experience dissatisfaction so that they can discover the One who satisfies. We cannot protect them all the time, even though we would love to, so we let Him protect them. Jesus tells us, “…how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings…” (Matthew 23:37). Jesus longs to gather every person to Him. As parents, what part do we play in this gathering? We are either helping or hindering the gathering process.
Henri Nouwen wrote, “How do we know about God’s love, God’s generosity, God’s kindness, God’s forgiveness? Through our parents, our friends, our teachers, our pastors, our spouses, our children…they all reveal God to us. But as we come to know them, we realise that each of them can reveal only a little bit of God. God’s love is greater than theirs; God’s goodness is greater than theirs; God’s beauty is greater than theirs. At first, we may be disappointed in these people in our lives. For a while, we thought that they would be able to give us all the love, goodness, and beauty we needed. But gradually we discover that they were all signposts on the way to God.”
When we let go of showing our children the way, they have the opportunity to discover personally for themselves that Jesus is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). As much as we love our children, God cares for them more than we ever could. We can hold firmly to the fact that the Good Shepherd not just cares about our children, but cares for our children.
Do we entrust the Good Shepherd with our children?
Good Shepherd, thank You that You love and care for my child more than I ever can. I pray that You gather my child into Your fold.
John 2
“People were bringing little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them...” Mark 10:13
As a parent, it is difficult to let go of our child. Especially for mothers, most just want to take care of their children for the rest of their life. But this is not something that we should do. We need to let go of our children and allow them to find their own way to God. Some of
us may want to accompany them all the way, but we cannot and must not do it. There comes a point when we need to let them go. Wise parents let go of their children gradually so that the child does not have to kick and scream to set themselves free.
Parents have a limit. We do not meet every need of the child and, therefore, they need to look beyond us. Wise parents know their limit and allow the child to be gathered out of their arms and into the arms of the Good Shepherd. We let them experience dissatisfaction so that they can discover the One who satisfies. We cannot protect them all the time, even though we would love to, so we let Him protect them. Jesus tells us, “…how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings…” (Matthew 23:37). Jesus longs to gather every person to Him. As parents, what part do we play in this gathering? We are either helping or hindering the gathering process.
Henri Nouwen wrote, “How do we know about God’s love, God’s generosity, God’s kindness, God’s forgiveness? Through our parents, our friends, our teachers, our pastors, our spouses, our children…they all reveal God to us. But as we come to know them, we realise that each of them can reveal only a little bit of God. God’s love is greater than theirs; God’s goodness is greater than theirs; God’s beauty is greater than theirs. At first, we may be disappointed in these people in our lives. For a while, we thought that they would be able to give us all the love, goodness, and beauty we needed. But gradually we discover that they were all signposts on the way to God.”
When we let go of showing our children the way, they have the opportunity to discover personally for themselves that Jesus is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). As much as we love our children, God cares for them more than we ever could. We can hold firmly to the fact that the Good Shepherd not just cares about our children, but cares for our children.
Do we entrust the Good Shepherd with our children?
Good Shepherd, thank You that You love and care for my child more than I ever can. I pray that You gather my child into Your fold.
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