What Are You Sowing?

My "Mystery" Bulbs

Do you know what kind of seeds you're sowing in your life?  Do you know what kind of seeds you're sowing in the lives of your children?  I hope so!  We need to be ever mindful of this as we go about our daily lives.

When I planted the bulbs in the picture above, I didn't know what they were.  They were leftovers of my sister's that had been left at my parents house and I decided to rescue them.  It has been fun to watch them grow, guessing at what they were and then finally finding out as they were close to blooming (you'll see at the end of the post).  However, the seeds that we plant in our children's lives don't need to be "surprise" seeds.  We don't want to scatter here and there and just wait and see how it happens to turn out.  We need to be intentional!  The Bible tells us in Galatians 6:7-10:

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.  Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.  So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." (NASB, emphasis mine)

 God tells us that whatever we sow, we will reap the results.  This can be applied to our own personal lives, certainly, but today I'd like to apply it to our guidance and teaching of our children.  What are you sowing in your children's lives?  Here are some examples:

Seeds of discontent or seeds of contentment?  

Are you careful what you say in front of your children?  Do you complain about circumstances in your life or are you happy to be where you are and have what you have?  Consider Philippians 4:11b:

"for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am."

 How about Philippians 2:14-16?

"Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world," (emphasis mine)

I'm sure we can all agree that we want to be lights for Christ to our children.  I personally have this verse hanging above my kitchen sink right now to encourage me to do all tasks, even the most mundane and monotonous, such as washing up the dishes each day, without complaining.  This one is definitely on my personal memory list right now.  

Seeds of laziness or seeds of diligence?

This one can be difficult.  My children are all 5 and under, so a lot of tasks are much easier (not to mention faster), for me to do myself, instead of having one of the children do it.  It takes more time invested now to teach my children how to properly complete a chore and train them to regularly do it, but what will I reap in the future if I take the time now to teach them instead of choosing the "easy road?"  Proverbs 6:6-11 says:

"Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest.  How long will you lie down, O sluggard?  When will you arise from your sleep?  A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest - your poverty will come in like a vagabond and your need like an armed man."

I definitely don't want my children to end up like that sluggard, so I'm doing my best to teach them diligence now, even though it requires more work on my part than just doing things myself.  

 Seeds of kindness or seeds of unkindness?

Up there in Galatians 6:10, you read "do good to all people, and especially to those of the household of faith."  Well, let's consider this in regard to those in our own households.  I recall hearing an older lady at church talking about making sure you weren't neglecting your children in your service to others.  She had been making food and desserts for other people and her children were asking why she wasn't making cookies for them.  I am grateful for her willingness to share that experience.  We should not neglect service to others, especially others in the church, but in our service to others, we should not neglect to serve the little people God has seen fit to place in our homes during this season of life.  I have to remember this especially, as I tend to easily take on responsibility.  My husband has to remind me of this tendency sometimes and keep me from becoming overwhelmed.  I need to make sure that I am maintaining adequate time to tend to my own family and time to treat them and be kind to them!  Ephesians 4:32 says:

"Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."

Right now, I like to find opportunities to serve others that I can involve my children in, such as sending notes of encouragement to others and having them draw a picture to include or for my oldest to write a small note of her own.  Finding opportunities like this one serves a dual-purpose: it keeps you together with your children and teaches them to serve others at the same time.  

There are many other "seeds" we could be sowing in our households, but these are just a few I came up with.  The main thing is to constantly evaluate the way we are living our own lives and how that is affecting our children.  Also, we need to be ever mindful of intentionally doing activities or talking about certain things that will sow the right seeds in the lives of our children.  God tells us in Proverbs 22:6:

"Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it."

Let's sow seeds that cause us to reap the eternal benefits of children who serve the Lord!  And always ask the Lord to keep you strong in this quest.  Keep focused on the eternal results and remember Galatians 6:9:

"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary."

Beautiful hyacinths!