Children, the Most Precious Gift

Children are the most precious gift. According to Psalm 127:3 they are a heritage. It says that “children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.”

The dictionary defines gift as something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone, honor an occasion, or make a gesture of assistance; a present.

Such favor from God can only be appropriately met by placing much value upon it. We can show our children that they are valued by loving, cherishing, and appreciating them. Kind words, a gentle touch, and an ear that always listens can bless them and show them their merit. It is a favor that exists simply because they exist and it is one that is not earned.

Tangible affirmation reminds children that they are valued. Years ago, when my children were in early elementary school, I cross-stitched a verse that said “Children, the most precious gift”. It was framed as the focal point between two old-fashioned art prints of children and hung as a unit over the sofa in the living room. Placed there, it held place of significance in our home and served to remind the children that they were important to us. This framed art remained as the central focus during their teenage years. Although they are now young adults and living on their own, I’ve decided that the framed art and cross-stitched message remains. No matter what the age, children are a blessing and it is our responsibility as parents to affirm this to them always.

Blessings are words of affirmation and love spoken to another. When a parent speaks these words and then exhibits them by action or deed, the child is blessed beyond measure. Gary Smalley and John Trent speak of the five elements of the blessing in their book by the same title. These elements are a meaningful touch, a spoken message, the attachment of high value to the one being blessed, the creation of a word picture of the special future perceived to the one being blessed, and an active commitment to fulfill the blessing. Although all parents can share the blessing with their children, the homeschool parent has a greater opportunity to pass this blessing along to their off-spring simply because of the dedicated amount of time he or she spends with them. The creation of a warm and responsive environment facilitates a positive sense of self-worth in children, blesses them, and helps them develop intellectually and to his or her full potential.

Today, thank God for the special opportunity He has given you to homeschool your children. And don’t forget to give your children an extra hug and words of affirmation! They are His gift.

A Beautiful Gold Love Cup

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Psalm 23:5

Just as our Heavenly Father fills our cup to overflowing, so should we as parents pour love into our children. Their love cups are fragile and should constantly be replenished.  Sometimes children can be so fussy and naughty. At times like this, instead of speaking out in frustration and punishment, maybe it is time to stop and concentrate on how much attention you have been giving them. I'm not speaking of indulgence, but rather purposeful attentiveness to their needs. It's the need to be hugged or rocked, to be listened to, and the need to fulfill not simply their physical needs but their emotional ones as well. 

Old-fashioned wisdom sometimes says that children should be seen and not heard; that they should be kept in their place. This false wisdom pushes children into the background and expectations are that they have to grow up too soon. In Victorian days children were thought of as miniature adults and were expected to act that way at a young age. Instead, I prefer the theory that you cannot spoil a child with too much love.  Pure love seeks to meet the needs of the child so that their love cup is full. What do children see as love? Essentially, to a child love equals attention. And lots of it! 

Children who do not receive enough attention tend to seek it in ways that are less than attractive to others around them. They may act up, show off, or get in the way. It's all a way to say "I need someone to notice me because right now I am feeling insignificant". If a child cannot get enough attention by being good or doing the right thing, he will automatically swing to the other side of the pendulum and will act out or do naughty things. As far as he is concerned, subconsciously attention is attention. It doesn't matter if is happy attention or negative attention. At least he is receiving it. But, how much more pleasant it is for the family if happy attention is what is sought and received. 

If a child's love cup is filled, a happy child is the result. I remember when our children were toddlers and would start to get fussy. About 99% of the time they needed some type of parental love or affirmation. Instead of scolding them for being fussy, we as parents quickly learned that scooping them up in our arms for some cuddle time or just listening to them as they explained something that was important to them usually took care of the problem. Love cups are made to be filled! If actions indicate that love levels are declining quickly, it is time to refill the cup!

There are three ways to fill a child's love cup. Each is important in helping children establish that they have self-worth (a gift which comes from God and is taught and expressed through the vehicle of parental love and acceptance). They are:

• Accept. We may not always accept a child's behavior, but we must always make it 100% clear that we accept them! Make sure your child knows that he has always been wanted and loved. And affirm that he will continue to be accepted for as long as you live.  Respect your child, affirm him, and let him know by word and action that you accept them just as he is. Naughty or nice, your children are your precious gems. Make them feel like their love cup is made from gold!
• Listen. It's easy to push children aside when it comes to opinions and thoughts.  Because their thoughts are immature, it might be easy to minimize them by hurrying them on and not really listening to what they have say. But their feelings are valid, and their thoughts are who they are. Take time to listen with sensitivity and warmth. It's a wonderful way to fill their love cup to overflowing.
• Time.  Children equate time with value.  The more time you give to them, the more his or her needs will be met.  Quality time is important, but quantity time is important too!  Don't accept that fallacy that short periods of quality time a day are enough.  Be sure you find lots of quality time in great quantity!  Have fun with your children.  Laugh, share, play, and create with them.  Even if you have to sacrifice expensive things, remember that your time is more important than any material thing you can give your child. 

Picture your child as a beautiful gold cup and strive to keep it filled to the brim!  Gems of acceptance, listening, and time adorn the cup. 

A Gift to Treasure

Happy are the parents whose lives are a true reflection of the divine, so that the promises and commands of God awaken in the child gratitude and reverence; the parents whose tenderness and justice and long-suffering of God; and who, by teaching the child to love and trust and obey them, are teaching him to love and trust and obey his father in heaven.  Parents who impart to a child such a gift have endowed him with a treasure more precious than the wealth of all the ages --- a treasure as enduring as eternity.

Ministry of Healing, page 375

Blessing Our Children

Blessings are words of affirmation and love spoken to another.  When a parent speaks these words and then exhibits them by action or deed, the child is blessed beyond measure.  Gary Smalley and John Trent speak of the five elements of the blessing in their book by the same title.  These elements are a meaningful touch, a spoken message, the attachment of high value to the one being blessed, the creation of a word picture of the special future perceived to the one being blessed, and an active commitment to fulfill the blessing.  Although all parents can share the blessing with their children, the homeschool  parent has a greater opportunity to pass this blessing along to their off-spring simply because of the dedicated amount of time he or she spends with their children.  The creation of a warm and responsive environment facilitates a positive sense of self-worth in children, blesses them, and helps them develop intellectually and to his or her full potential.  Although teachers in an institutionalized setting can be warm and responsive, studies have shown that the sheer number of students under the care of a classroom teacher limits his or her ability to spend much time affirming each student individually.  An average teacher spends seven minutes a day responding to students, and this number includes both positive and negative responses.  Because of time constraints, discipline issues, and lack of one-on-one interaction, most students are not asked the “why” and “how” questions that expand their abilities to become thinkers.  Instead, instructors tend to spend more time asking “who, what, where, and when”, simply because the answers to these questions are easier to evaluate quickly so they can move along to other things.  Home education provides an opportunity for parents to bless their children by responding to their individual needs in a warm and positive way.  A by-product of this blessing is the development of intellect and the creation of thinking children.

Nature Represents God

Close your eyes for a moment and picture a young boy of ten or twelve years of age with dark hair, bright eyes, and a ruddy complexion.   Can you visualize him slowly ambling up a warm, Judean hillside?  Picture Him deep in thought, yet very observant — unusual for one His age.
  
This child, Jesus, was happiest in the fields and on the hillsides.  There, among the birds and flowers, through their actions and interactions, God taught Him many practical and spiritual lessons.  Jesus learned through the symbolism that He Himself had embedded into the things of nature when He created the world.  A mother bird, sheltering her brood under her wings, taught Him of the security of His Father’s care.  A tiny seed, pushing its leaf up through the hard earth taught Him of the power of the implanted germ of new life imputed in human hearts by God.  A pure white waterlily, floating on a murky pond, taught that He could live a pure and holy life, even amidst the strife and turmoil of the world.  Many of the lessons that He later taught on the hillsides of Galilee to the eager throngs, He learned through careful attention to the lessons taught by the little things around Him.

As human beings, we are a part of His creation.  We also fit into the symbolic scheme of the natural world and are commissioned to be examples of spiritual truths.  As His highest and most intelligent of earthly creatures, God is asking us to be vessels that reveal His love to others.  Through the tender bonds of love, we are to symbolize Christ to the world.  We are to be symbols, a model or representation of God’s family.  Our relationships with those around us, both at home and beyond, may be all that those in a sin-sick world can see of Christ’s love.  Expressing His character through our actions and deeds is what God asks us to do.  Quite a challenge, but the power to achieve it comes from Him.  Just look to the tiny examples in nature that share this truth.

~M

Children, the Most Precious Gift

Children are the most precious gift.  According to Psalm 127:3 they are a heritage.  It says that “children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.”

The dictionary defines gift as something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone, honor an occasion, or make a gesture of assistance; a present.
Such favor from God can only be appropriately met by placing much value upon it.  We can show our children that they are valued by loving, cherishing, and appreciating them.  Kind words, a gentle touch, and an ear that always listens can bless them and show them their merit.  It is a favor that exists simply because they exist and it is one that is not earned.

Tangible affirmation reminds children that they are valued.  Years ago, when my children were in early elementary school, I cross-stitched a verse that said “Children, the most precious gift”.  It was framed as the focal point between two old-fashioned art prints of children and hung as a unit over the sofa in the living room.  Placed there, it held place of significance in our home and served to remind the children that they were important to us.  This framed art remained as the central focus during their teenage years.  Although they are now young adults and living on their own, I’ve decided that the framed art and cross-stitched message remains.  No matter what the age, children are a blessing and it is our responsibility as parents to affirm this to them always.
Blessings are words of affirmation and love spoken to another.  When a parent speaks these words and then exhibits them by action or deed, the child is blessed beyond measure.  Gary Smalley and John Trent speak of the five elements of the blessing in their book by the same title.  These elements are a meaningful touch, a spoken message, the attachment of high value to the one being blessed, the creation of a word picture of the special future perceived to the one being blessed, and an active commitment to fulfill the blessing.  Although all parents can share the blessing with their children, the homeschool parent has a greater opportunity to pass this blessing along to their off-spring simply because of the dedicated amount of time he or she spends with them.  The creation of a warm and responsive environment facilitates a positive sense of self-worth in children, blesses them, and helps them develop intellectually and to his or her full potential.

Today, thank God for the special opportunity He has given you to homeschool your children.  And don’t forget to give your children an extra hug and words of affirmation!  They are His gift.