Sheltering through Planting

We do not “create” (our child's) character; rather, we teach and model to them what character is. Our training is cultivation, preparing an honest and good heart, so the seeds of God’s truth, when they fall there, will take root and grow, producing Christ-like character. ~Clay Clarkson





RB's parents always had a large garden.  One year, the man who was preparing the garden for planting had  turnip seeds in his shirt pocket.  Every time he would lean over, a few seeds would fall out.  They  grew a huge crop of turnips that year -- much to RB's dismay.  His mother "hid" them in everything -- changing even the texture and taste of their mashed potatoes.

God's Word tells us, "If they plant to satisfy their sinful selves, their sinful selves will bring them ruin.  But if they plant to please the Spirit, they will receive eternal life from the Spirit" (Galatians 6:8).

Ruth Graham, daughter of Billy Graham, has a new book coming out in August:   I'm eager to purchase it for Melanie.  Step Into the Bible: 100 Family Devotions to Help Grow Your Child's Faith.  This is an updated version of an earlier edition.

100 Bible Stories Retold For Family Devotions In just ten minutes a day, your family can journey through an engaging Bible story and discover the richness of a faith-filled life! Based on a collection of biblical stories used by four generations of the Graham family, this updated edition of Ruth Graham's devotional is fresh and colorful, perfect for children ages eight and under. You and your family will be encouraged as you step into the Bible together. 100 ten-minute Bible readings for manageable family devotions of Full-color photography and artwork.  Open-ended questions that inspire imagination and exploration. Short, accessible memory verses that help build spiritual character and knowledge.

It's especially important that parents sow good character traits in their children while they are young.  Our Ethan was in first grade this year.  One morning Melanie got him up a few minutes late.  Hurrying him through his breakfast, she urged him to get in the van.  "But I didn't have my devotions," Ethan said, distraught over the thought of going to school without them.

That warmed this Mawmaw's heart.  The seeds Shawn and Melanie are planting in their children will cause them to grow into strong, sturdy Christians.  When we sow Biblical principles of quick obedience, cheerfulness, honesty and kindness, that is what will flower in their lives.

Home Life Ministries has an interactive list of character traits.  Each trait is clickable and takes you to materials to teach the trait to your child through story, definition and activities.

Another recourse that I would like to suggest is Family Life Today's While They Are Sleeping: 12 Character Traits to Pray for the Children You Love.

While They Are Sleeping leads you as you lift your kids to God around twelve vital character traits:

• Five days of prayer and Scripture for each trait
• Guided personal prompts for your individual child's needs
• Related ideas for connecting with your child
• "Live it Out" application suggestions for your family

With over 100,000 distributed globally, While They Are Sleeping has equipped parents around the world to connect with the One who loves their children most—requesting His transformative power. Because He can change them, completing the good work He's begun, some of your kids' greatest life change may begin while they're sound asleep.

Oh, planting is fun.  It's a responsibility, too.  The best way we can teach Biblical character traits to our children is to live them out before them.  If we model generosity, our children will learn to be generous.  When we are diligent about our duties, our children will learn diligence.  What seeds do we have in our pockets?  You can be sure, whatever we are planting, that's what we will sow.  Plant to please the Spirit -- then you will receive eternal life.

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Auntie Em wanted a fun project for the kids.  She will be living in Indianapolis and working in a daycare for the summer and knew her time with her favorite "little people" would be scarce.  She found kits at Michaels ($1.99) for decorating flowerpots.  They had so much fun painting their papers, planting the flowers and making a plant poke for each one.

Can you think of a young child who would enjoy this project?  I think it would be fun to help a child make one, then take the flowers to an elderly woman who is missing all the flowers  she used to plant.

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