God the parent
Parenting is a complex gift and task. Often we can get so distracted with the tasks of parenting (providing food, discipline, shelter, clothing and education) that we lose our relationship with the child in all the pressures and worries.
Yet the greatest need of a child in growing into a secure, self-confident adult is to know that they are loved. Love is expressed in trust, care, delight and freedom to develop as a person in healthy, forgiving relationships.
Read Psalm 139:13-16
God has created each of us. We are unique.
- What can we learn from this passage about how God sees each one of us?
- What does this passage tell us about God as our creator?
Read Galatians 4:4-7
God gives us an opportunity to be in a relationship with him. Each of us has a strong desire to be loved and to belong in families and communities. If we know we are loved, we know we belong. Secure in that knowledge, we can grow into God’s promises for our lives.
- What does it mean for you to belong to God?
- Do we help others to know they are wanted and belong?
Read Matthew 12:18 and Luke 3:22
God was not afraid of expressing his love for his Son and for us as his children. He asks us to do the same. Children know if our love is a duty or a joy. Joyful love frees a child to be happy, creative and to discover who they are.
- Are you secure enough in God’s love to share this in your relationships with your children and others?
Read Jeremiah 31:3-20
God forgives us as we stumble and grow towards maturity. His love for us gives us the security to try new things. We can be confident that he will never hurt or abandon us.
- What does it mean to me to know that God delights in me?
- What stops me from giving this same gift to the children that I care for? How can I change, with God’s help?
May we delight in our children for who they are, and give them the freedom to be themselves in Christ.
Jesus and children
Jesus was concerned about children and their needs. He enjoyed their company and loved to spend time with them.
Read Matthew 19:13-15
- Is our attitude to children like that of Christ – or of his disciples?
- What is our own attitude to children in our work? Do we make time to listen to them and their needs and to respect them as individuals?
Read Matthew 18:1-4
- What is it about children that Jesus loves?
- Why do we need to become like children to enter God’s kingdom?
In Luke 2:41-51 we read about how Jesus, when still a child, was quite capable of deciding for himself about what he wanted to learn. He had much to contribute to the discussion, too.
Read Matthew 21:14-16
In this passage, we learn how Jesus recognised that the children were able to understand what was happening and were not afraid to speak out about it. Children may see things that we pretend to ignore, fail to acknowledge, or that we are too embarrassed to take action about.
- Can you think of times when children may be more effective in sharing than adults?
Discuss and prayerfully consider how your community can involve children more in developing a healthy and united community. Pray for the children that you know.
Families
God intends the family to be a place of refuge and security, standing strong under pressures. It should be a place where members can grow to maturity, sharing good things and fun! There are many examples of this in the Bible – for example, Psalm 128.
- What can we do to strengthen our families?
- What will help them to develop as God intended?
Read Deuteronomy 6:4-9
If we put God first in our lives, other things will fall into place. Studying the Bible, both alone and together, is very important. It is a foundation stone for the family.
Read 1 Corinthians 13 to understand the type of love which we should have in our families.
- Do we have this love in our own families?
Read Ephesians 5:21-6:4 and then Colossians 3:18-21 to learn about our responsibilities as family members. What are these responsibilities? Do we really put them into practice?
- As husbands, are we loving and not harsh to our wives? Do we love them as much as ourselves?
- As wives, are we ‘companions’ to our husbands, supporting them in their role?
- Children are a blessing from God. Do we see them as a blessing, or do we think instead of the problems they bring? Do we encourage them or always criticise them?
- Do we respect and obey our parents? As they become old, do we look after them?
- Do we look at the problems of their old age rather than the wisdom that it brings?
- How does your family life compare with these truths in the Bible? What could you do to improve things?
Finally, enjoy your family! They are a blessing!
The wisdom of old and young
As we grow older, some of our activities may stop but new opportunities of love and living may also open up. Whatever our age, God is there for us, and always will be.
Read Isaiah 46:3-4
At a time of crisis, God reminds the nation of Israel, through Isaiah, that he was there when their nation began, and also when each individual person was conceived and born. Whatever troubles we have in life, who else but God can carry us through life, from birth until our hairs are grey?
Read Proverbs 23:22-25
The whole book of Proverbs is a message from a father to his son. He is passing on advice collected and tested by wise people, for his son to follow. He wants him to grow up fearing God. You might take time to read all of Proverbs, comparing these sayings with your own traditional ones.
- Do we listen to our parents and bring them joy?
Many older people have great wisdom about life, their faith, history, or perhaps traditional practices (such as the use of medicinal herbs) from which we might all benefit. Seek first the wisdom of the elders, while they are able to give it.
- Do you listen to those older than you?
Read Job 32
As Job suffers greatly, his three older friends listen and then give their advice. Unfortunately, they are of no help, because they get it wrong! A young man called Elihu eventually speaks up, with more understanding. Sometimes younger people see things more clearly. As our world changes so fast, particularly in the areas of science, computers and communications, there may often be times when we also need to listen to the young.
- Do you listen to those younger than you?
- When should we listen to the advice of younger people?
We should not fear change as we grow older. We have the company of both older and younger people – and above all, the company of our Lord – to help us meet life’s changes.