“It’s easier to build up a child, than to repair an adult. Your words and actions have power in your child’s life. Use them wisely.”

A reminder that as we’re raising children, we’re actually shaping human lives 👀

And if there’s one thing I’ve learnt, especially in various therapy/counselling scenarios, is that much of who we become in adulthood is largely shaped by our childhood experiences.  And by default, our experiences with our parental figures.

It presents a lot of pressure, yes ☺️.
But I guess that is the reality of having and raising children….you become the main steward of their lives.

And this is not to say we will always do it perfectly. Or at least, I know I don’t 😅. But, the pursuit is that of stewarding this great and precious responsibility well.

I know some days are great, and some, not so great.
Some days, the kind words and smiles and hugs are abundant.  And some days the voices are loud, and the patience is really lacking.

But I think, even on those days, being able to apologise when you’ve treated a child unkindly or your actions have not quite been what you desire them to be, goes a long way.

It’s also an important lesson to teach our children that even as parents we’re not perfect, but we strive to do good.  And in that process, we endeavour to love, respect and protect them as much as we can.

Their childhood doesn’t haven’t to be something they need to recover from.

It can be what launches them into the rest of their lives, it can be a wonderful foundation, one that keeps them standing firm through all of life’s storms because they are set in identity & love.

“Your words and actions have power in your child’s life. Use them wisely.”

What Does Jesus Say About Children?

This past weekend, as I was reading Matthew 18, what Jesus says about children stood out so much for me. These are verses I’d read or heard before, but I saw them in a different light this time.

*Verse 6*
“but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble and sin [by leading him away from My teaching], it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone [as large as one turned by a donkey] hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”

– What stood out for me in this verse is the hefty warning to those who would lead little children away from God’s teaching 👀. We know we’re called to care for our little people, but I don’t know if keeping them in line with God’s teaching is always really top of mind everyday.

*Verse 10*
““See that you do not despise or think less of one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven [are in the presence of and] continually look upon the face of My Father who is in heaven.”

– I’m not even sure what all of this means but I thought this was interesting that Jesus would specifically mention that the children’s angels always see the face of the Father in Heaven. What’s the significance? Do adults’ angels not see the face of the Father? 😵‍💫

And then, the very popular verse that I just now realised we’ve often used out of context, comes straight after the above:

*Verse 12-14*
““What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them gets lost, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountain and go in search of the one that is lost? And if it turns out that he finds it, I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that did not get lost. _So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones be lost.”_

– I’d never heard or known that this scripture had actually been uttered in the context of children 😊.

All to say, dear friends, let’s always remember the weighty responsibility and significant role we play in shaping these lives. Let’s be intentional and give our best, because these are human lives…the most impact you’ll probably have in your life.

#IntentionalLiving #KingdomLiving