Heirlooms for Eternity
Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass.Psalm 37:4-5
"I want this to stay in the family," both grandmothers stated, as they handed me their shower gift. My husband was not only the oldest grandchild on both sides, but he was also their only grandson. Not until I opened them, did I realize what valued treasures they had entrusted to me.
As Christian mothers, we also have valued gifts from the Lord – that of our children.
"Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward" (Psalm 127:3). From the first moment that our child is placed in our arms at birth, their life becomes a process of us unraveling the "gift wrap" to discover their potential talents and purpose. As we are with them day-to-day, we have opportunity to observe their abilities and strengths to gain insight into how the Lord would have us to direct them – whether it be professional or ministry.
Even more important, however, is the importance of preparing our children to carry on our spiritual legacy. Yes, they may need to learn a profession or perfect a skill to better equip them in the world, but their ultimate purpose is to share the faith of Jesus Christ.
At one time, when my oldest son was young, I thought that I saw his bent toward the ministry. But when I questioned him about it, he replied with a strong, "I don’t think so." So, with continual prayer I guided him into a profession for the purpose of being a good provider for his family. At the end of his five years of secular education, after graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree, he was offered a prestigious and high-paying position with a government agency. After much prayer and searching, he turned it down to go into ministry. The Lord had indirectly used my son’s college experience to give him a burden for the lost souls of the international students attending his university.
His "intellectual" education is now enabling him to relate to these individuals in a way that few are able, as he befriends them and shares the gospel. He is currently involved in a full time ministry outreach to them, while attending Bible Institute part-time.
As I look back on my son’s life, his "gift packaging" was a challenge to unwrap, but is now a joy to behold.
Christian mother, I share this with you to encourage you to continue to unwrap the precious gift of your children, and to daily seek the Lord for wisdom in how to do this. Stay with it! Do not allow Satan to discourage you in your homeschooling. God has a purpose in your gifts!
Returning to my wedding shower over 28 years ago, when I unwrapped the valued gifts from my husband’s grandmothers, as they looked on with anxiousness and anticipation for my response, I discovered that they were entrusting me with family heirlooms. One was a large, intricately patterned crystal bowl, and the other was an equally beautiful, crystal pitcher, both, of which, had been handed down to them by their mothers. I was speechless at the amount of faith and trust that they had in me – solely because I was marrying their grandson!
In like manner, as a child of God, adopted into His family, He gives us our children as a "wrapped gift". And if we truly seek Him and desire His Will, He promises to help us unwrap these precious gifts and to give us wisdom and guidance for these gifts to be all that He intended them to be - Heirlooms for eternity!
Prayer: Lord, viewing my children as a "wrapped gift", gives me a challenge in seeking YOUR Will for their lives. I pray for Your wisdom in raising them to be all they can be in service for You. Please help me to be open to Your leading and receptive to Your guidance! In Jesus Name, I pray, Amen.
