Day 6 – Psalm 127:3-5

³ Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. ⁴ Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. ⁵ Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate. ^[1]

How do we value our children, as parents or as members of the community? They are not objects to be possessed or assets to be managed. They are tremendous gifts from God, rewards from Him, and apparently God allows even those who are not worthy of receiving rewards from Him to have children. That is because the children themselves are the reward, which is manifested in the manner in which we handle them. You have seen children exhibiting counter-productive behavior and many times when you see their parents you understand why. I am often filled with grief seeing the manner in which many children are being raised because they are “a heritage from the Lord.”

Anyone that has ever seen a newborn, regardless of how they came to be in the world, can appreciate how precious they are. They are innocent, untainted, uninhibited, and their love is often without conditions. They become these little people with developing personalities that cause us to laugh or cry, sometimes running a full spectrum of emotions all at the same time. How we raise them, how we handle them as parents, teachers, family members, church members or just members of a common community is wrapped up in our attitudes toward them.

The psalmist tells us that children are our legacy. They are our heritage. Long after we are gone they will reflect either for good or for evil. Like arrows in a warrior’s quiver they will fly straight in the direction we shoot them. If we point them in the direction of excellence that is the direction they will go. If we prepare them for the cruelty of the world they are certain to experience they will not be blindsided or ashamed. How we handle children, those that are our own and those that are not, determines their future and secures our legacy. Let us, therefore, be cautious in how we handle our children. Let us be prayerful in how we handle this awesome responsibility we have been given.

Heavenly Father, thank for the rewards we have received in our children as parents or as friends. Some of us have never experienced the joys and sorrows of actually raising a child. Some of us are aunts and uncles, godparents or just special friends, but share the responsibility of launching these children into their destiny. Forgive for acquiescing our responsibility to those who don’t value them, who contend with them simply because it is their job. Forgive us for the times we have grumbled and complained and help us to see these children in a different light. Help us to see them through Your eyes and in the process transform our attitudes. We ask this in the strong name of Jesus. Amen.