Planting Seeds

My children have recently decided to stop watching movies in the car and instead want to listen music. This is an incredible blessing straight from the Lord. I no longer must listen to the same cartoon’s over and over and over again. No more fighting over who’s turn it is to pick the movie. Instead, we listen to mommy’s favorite songs. The kids all buckled in the back scream the lyrics as loud as possible and although my ears may hurt, what a blessing to hear my children sing praises to the Lord.

More than that, the songs make them ask questions. One of my favorite songs is “Thy Will” by Hillary Scott. She sings that although she doesn’t understand how her broken heart can be His will, she will still cry out that His will be done. When the song finished, my daughter asked me what she meant. I happily paused the music for this question.

I explained that sometimes bad things happen in our life, but God has a plan for us. We must let go of what we feel and cling to God’s plan. Although she’s only 4, her next question was true of any of us, “but mommy what if my plan is better?” How can I make her understand this? “What is one of your favorite things?” I asked her. She shouted out, “A Pegasus!” I had the perfect example, she watches a cartoon with a Pegasus. A cartoon is as close as she can get and that’s good enough for her. “However, what if God wanted to give you one?” I asked. Her face changed with great excitement. I asked her which is better, a cartoon or the real thing? The choice is clear. That’s what the words “Thy will be done” mean. God’s plan is always much better than anything we can think of.

I count this interaction as 3 blessings in 1. One, I no longer have to listen to cartoons. Two, my children sing praises to the Lord. Three, my children learn more about Him! I read in a Bible study recently that a generation walked away from the Lord because the older did not teach the younger about Him. It is up to you and to me as parents to teach our children. Every interaction is an opportunity to them about who He is.

Even just this morning my daughter mentioned the beautiful sky. I told her that God created that sunrise just to show her how much He lover her. In her wonderful sweetness she said, “but mommy God loves everybody.” Yes, this is true, “but every so often He does little things just for you to show you how much He loves you”, I said. God created that sunrise just for her this morning, because He knew she would mention it.

No opportunity should pass by that we don’t explain the goodness of God to our children. Never be caught up in your own music that you won’t pause the song. Never be so distracted that you don’t hear what they say. Even the smallest of things is a way to explain a little more about who He is. We can not let the next generation walk away without knowing the fullness and goodness of God!