Every year we have a day to show special appreciation to our mothers and fathers. If they did their job right, they raised us to have at least basic moral standards, put clothes on our back, fed us, kept a roof over our head. They ministered to us when we were sick, patiently weathered the growing pains of our childhood, helped us survive the storms of our adolescence. And when we became full-fledged adults, we related to them more as friends. I know that for some people it isn't like that, because life in this earth is unpredictable and often unfair. Even the best of people are flawed because of sin. But we can be thankful for the times our parents did things right.
Appreciation should also be shown whenever your child(ren) lovingly fulfill Ephesians 6:2-3: Honour thy father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise (of a reward). That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
When my daughter was two someone prophesied that she would be a great JOY to us. I remember when she was little and satan was giving me grief over some stray thought that came into my mind. I felt guilty about it and said: "There must be evil in my heart." My daughter said: "No, Mommy, Jesus is in your heart." When she was four, we taught her to read. One day she read Revelation 21:7 to me with a glowing smile on her little face: He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
He that begetteth a wise child shall have JOY of him (Prov. 23:24). Be thankful for every flower your child(ren) brings you, for all the artwork and drawings they do to show their love. Twenty years from now the spotless kitchen floor you worked so hard to achieve won't be nearly so precious a memory as the games you played with your children, or the frisbees you threw at the park. My daughter's favorite Bible story was Samson and Delilah. I never understood why, but I told it over and over again. We also discussed stories about Jesus. She loved one song in particular, "The Butterfly Song", which compares the unfolding of the nature of Christ within us to the transformation of an ugly caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. I would gently croon this to her to help her sleep as we travelled together on the Greyhound bus across the country to visit my parents. On those long journeys we had lots of time to talk and grow closer. What fun it was to share a big trucker's breakfast at some roadside diner. How wonderful, when your child is also your friend.
What JOY my daughter has brought us in every stage of her life, from babyhood all the way up to now as a busy career woman. Last November my husband got very ill and had to be hospitalized. It was a very stressful time for me and my daughter, to say the least. But I'll always remember the way she stayed by my side and held my hand to help me stay strong. She said that no matter what happened, she'd never leave me to cope alone. She would come home after work and share meals with me. She took me back and forth to the hospital for three weeks. She brought her father's favorite magazines and newspapers and did countless little things to cheer him up. It wasn't easy for Tom, being unable to eat because of his medication, but our daughter helped keep his morale up. Together we rejoiced as Tom rallied from the crisis and was finally able to finish recuperating at home. Our daughter bought him things to make him comfortable at home. She visited us frequently to keep an eye on his progress. she went way beyond the call of duty in showing her devotion to us.
Never forget to thank God for the JOYS your own child(ren) bring to you.
Author Resource:-
Patricia Backora has been filled with the Holy Spirit since 1970. She believes in the nine Gifts of the Spirit, and the imminent return of Christ. Patricia’s articles address problems and spiritual needs in the Christian church. She believes that the rightly divided Word of God (2 Tim.2:15) must be the final authority.
http://banpreachergreed.tripod.comhttp://kingdomage.tripod.com
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