Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Psalm 127:3
Several times a year as a part of the Sunday worship service at my church, we have Parent-Child Dedication. It is a time for our congregation to celebrate with families who have added children to their homes through the God-given blessing of birth and adoption. One of the major responsibilities of these parents, and all us who are Christian parents, is teaching our children how to live the words of Deuteronomy 6:5: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might”.
As our pastor opens a time of Parent-Child Dedication, he reminds the parents of the covenant they are making before the LORD. He charges them to pray for their children, teach them sound doctrine, and to be a godly example in their lives. He then reads Psalm 127.
The theme of Psalm 127 is the importance of the LORD’s influence on the family. “Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1). In verse 3 of Psalm 127, the writer speaks specifically of children as a divine gift, an expression of God’s goodness upon a parent’s life, “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward”.
Our children are a tremendous blessing from God, and they are a tremendous responsibility.
As parents, it’s imperative that we take this responsibility seriously. It’s hard to teach what we don’t model. This rings true with any learning that takes place in a parent-child relationship. Our children most likely will not walk a path we ourselves are not traveling. So, we rely on God’s grace and the work of the Holy Spirit within us to help us model godly living before them.
Be encouraged! Although our walk will never be perfect in this life, when we set our affections on Christ, we can trust that our children will follow. What a blessing to walk side by side through this life of faith with those God has given you the responsibility of leading. Imagine, becoming more and more like Christ, simultaneously watching those you love so much becoming more like Him too.
In both cases, our God is glorified!