As the Director of Christ Church Nursery School, I take the words written here and think of the overwhelming responsibility that each of us are given when it comes to caring for and teaching our young children. Children are like tender young plants who need our guidance, love and support- yet despite our imperfections they grow up into strong, capable and confident adults...or at least that is our hope.
In this world full of endless distractions, it is more important than ever to help our children see the big picture. Life is hard; challenges and disappointments are a part of all our lives. Allowing our children to struggle can be difficult, but it is through these struggles that our children learn to trust their own abilities even as they recognize their weaknesses. God did not create any of us as perfect, yet God has given us the gift of unconditional love. Through their toughest moments, we want our children to know that they are not alone and that they are loved, unconditionally.
In the parable of the growing mustard seed
, I'd like to think that Jesus wanted us to know that all we need is faith and trust. Faith that things will always be okay and trust in God's plan.
If we are rooted in Jesus and his teachings, it is more likely that our children will also grow firm roots in the teachings of Christ. Our children are always watching us and their desire is to emulate us. Everything we do and everything we say matters; acts of kindness, caring, manners, consistent effort, household chores, accountability, the list goes on and on. How can we possibility set the example that our children deserve? Only through the grace of God do we put one foot in front of the other and do our best, for even without the farmer's intervention a seed will grow. God has the plan and if we follow his word and keep his teachings in our hearts, remaining faithful and fruitful, we can hope for a good harvest.
Our children deserve our full attention, our love and our support, but in the end the results of the harvest will be up to God alone. May the parable of the mustard seed remind us that great things grow from small beginnings.
