Spring has sprung
There’s another D word, more critical and encompassing than discipline, yet it is very, very close in written form.
Guesses? (Can you tell I like games?)
Duh-duh-DISCIPLE.
We are called to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19).
But Jinger wasn’t talking that day about all nations, the masses, or even just friends and neighbors. Nope. You don’t even have to go next door to find these itty bitty disciples-in-waiting.
We’ve been specifically assigned these precious children in our very homes as our disciples. It’s a little scary, isn’t it?
When I think of disciples, Peter comes to mind. Can you just picture him all excited and ready to jump right out of that boat to walk on the water with Jesus? Maybe he wanted to be first, maybe he was a bit too anxious, and yes, he got scared and began to sink. BUT, for a brief moment, one beautiful, trusting, faithful moment, he was walking…walking with Jesus in faith.
That’s what I want for my two boys, for them to learn to walk in faith more and more each day, moment by moment. That’s what I want for myself, too.
I know better than to expect that will just happen on its own.
I mean, does a seed sprout and flourish into a beautiful, sweet-smelling flower by simply burying it in the dirt?
My sad little flower bed would say no.
The same is true with our kids.
We have to plant, provide sunshine, water, fortify, protect, and even prune.
It takes effort. Not just once and that’s it. But, this gardening/discipleship is a process that takes time, effort, diligence and patience to yield its crop. Oh how God loves a gardening analogy, and encourages us in Galatians 6:9:
“Let us not grow weary in doing good,
for in due season we will reap a harvest
if we do not give up.“
Oh, the amount of pruning required on some days saps my water supply and blazes my sunlight way too harshly. On these days, I fear there is more withering occurring than blossoming.
Maybe it was this winter season that wearied this old plant. I need sunshine, water and nutrients as well. For this job, I cannot be seasonal, only blooming certain times of the year. I’ve got to be evergreen.
Experts say that plants thrive by us just being with them. Ok, TECHNICALLY, it is the CO2 we give off. But, I think the concept goes straight to Jinger’s point: Relationship is the key to discipleship.
Jesus built a close relationship with his disciples, living life with and spending deliberate, quality time with them. God sent His Holy Spirit, a counselor, to continually dwell with us and in us. That is what God wants with us – a relationship. And that’s what our children need with us as well.
I’m tired of trying to function on my own limited resources, while expecting to be a good source of nourishment to my kids.
Spring has sprung, and I’m ready to bloom!
Lord, make me a gardener that plants, waters, provides Your light, fortifies, protects and prunes. Let me not grow weary while doing Your good.
Thank you for your Son, your Word, and your Holy Spirit, who provide all the nutrients I need for life as an evergreen.
You are the great encourager. Help me be one to my children as well, by building them up in Your Word, Your ways, and Your love. Amen. – Sundee McDonald
To hear Jinger’s talk on The Importance of Mom online, click here.
Next Building Blocks Event:
SIBLINGS
April 15, 10am – noon – REGISTER NOW!
How to encourage your children to live, laugh, and love each other. Lots of different factors make the dynamic of each family unique. Come be encouraged by Alex Wagner, mother of six, and Millye Hale, mother of three, as they discuss the causes, consequences and possible solutions to dealing with sibling rivalry. Childcare is provided for this event if you register by April 8.
