Helping Your Kids

Why can’t life be easier? I have had that question run through my mind at times and I am sure you have too. Thankfully the older I get the less I think that way. In my younger days I seemed to be looking for the quickest and less painful way, asking God to make everything easier for me. I think that is human nature, but also it is a sign of immaturity. There is an office supply company that advertises with this large red easy button in order to show how easy it is to get products from them. It seems to me that in this day and time there are a great many people that look for that easy button to live their everyday lives. People look for ways to make many things easier, their relationships, raising children or just about anything. There is nothing wrong with trying to find easier or better methods, but the easy, quick way many times is the most destructive way to take. The truth is this – life is sometimes hard and most of the things in life of high value will require a lot from you.

I am amazed at how many parents raise children to live in a pain-free, problem-free world. It’s probably due to a shame problem in the parents; they are sometimes afraid others would see them as not being a good parent. This is a major problem and one of the reasons that this generation has entitlement issues. Some have even named them the “snowflake” generation because they tend to get offended easily when there are no handouts or if they receive a no instead of a yes. Our world is full of problems and there will be painful times, so to prepare them for a life of ease is not doing them any favors.  I’m sure you have heard the story of how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. The struggle in the cocoon that the caterpillar goes through is actually what causes it to form its wings. If there is no struggle, there will be no butterfly. To have children that grow and mature into responsible, helpful adults, they must be formed in the midst of hard and sometimes painful journeys.

God who created you wants to bless you, but He never promised to grow you up surrounded with ease. I remember some of the things our children went through as preacher’s kids. Not an easy road at times because so much was expected of them. All eyes were upon them as to how they chose to dress, boyfriends they had and scores of other things that were really no one’s business. Dan and I were concerned that some of the hard things they went through as kids would hinder them in life. I remember something Joyce Meyer once said to a friend of mine, “If you are anointed to be a minister, then your children are anointed to be in the position they are in, so stop worrying about them.” Life was not easy, but our daughters have grown into amazing strong women now raising their own children.  Those very things that could have hindered them actually helped form them.  

God Wants To Grow You Like A Tree

Ps. 1:1-6 (NASB) “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

The tree is firmly planted by the water source. You are firmly planted to grow and produce fruit. God is your foundation and He will keep you grounded in the right place through all the seasons to come. 

Even during a drought a tree’s root system grows deep to continue to be watered from below. You become dependent upon God through every situation that comes your way. Superficial things fill you for a while, but you are after what will change your life for the better. To get that you must go deeper. 

As a tree’s roots go deeper into the soil to get water, the tree becomes more anchored into its foundation. As winds and storms come the tree endures, unbending, thriving in the midst of the chaos. The tree even becomes a haven for others to take shelter through the scorching heat, the unbearable cold and the raging winds. No matter what comes your way, you become stronger through the hardship because God has been growing you to function in the earth as a tree. 

You thrive during all seasons – the seasons of testing, the seasons of misunderstandings, seasons of plenty and seasons of drought. You now stand higher than most and become a shelter for many during their storms. God has been growing you so that you will help grow others.

Choose to do life as a tree, not chaff

Chaff is the outer coating from a seed that is blown away by even the slightest wind. it’s no good for anything. This is how it is with those that choose to live like chaff without responsibilities, looking for the easy way to everything. I certainly don’t think you want this kind of life for yourself or your generations.

Recognizing the value of growth. To do this, begin seeing life from God’s view. See the value in each trial or difficulty that comes your way. You will soon find that you aren’t as quick to look for that easy button anymore. A new understanding of life will take hold of how you parent, how you lead your company, how you relate to others. God will make sure that whatever you do will prosper!

I am surrounded with many people that I would call trees. Some are mighty oaks and some are beautiful cedars with incredible aromas. God has planted you in a specific place, but not just to take up space.  No matter your age, your occupation, whether others know your name, you are chosen by God to grow and thrive like a tree, immovable, bearing beautiful fruit for the glory of the Lord. I encourage you to view your life differently and watch to see God manifest Himself in your life in amazing ways.