Saturday, July 4, 2009

Sowing and Reaping

Posted by Tracy Wainwright at 12:55 PM
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 2 Corinthians 9:6

When gardening the truth of these words play out before your eyes. Each year I've had a garden I've planted a little bit more and a little bit differently. The first year I had several squash and zucchini plants which produced abundantly. My husband was glad not to see a squash for the 9 months in between gardening time after that summer. Even though these verses are amidst discussion about financial gifts to support the work of God's apostles, it applies to any area of life, including parenting.

How much and what I sow in my children's lives will determine what and how much is reaped in their lives. Although there's no direct correlation (as in a garden where some plants do better than others, drought can affect production, and critters can steal and/or destroy plants/veggies) between sowing and reaping, there is a direct relationship. If I sow impatience with my children, they will be impatient. If I sow a love for reading with my children, they will be more likely to enjoy reading. If I sow inconstency with my children, they will not trust me. Just as the type of seeds I plant in my garden determine the types of vegetation I'll reap, the seeds I plant in my children in what I teach them through lessons and through modeling will help determine the types of fruits they will develop in their lives.

As I go about my day, with the abundance of responsibilities and desires pulling at my attention, it is important for me to be mindful and intentional about what I'm sowing in my children's lives. Am I making them feel loved and special? Am I teaching them to love the Lord, themselves, and others? Am I teaching them to be responsible and unselfish? Am I paying attention to their natural abilities and talents? Am I planting and nurturing Godly values in their lives? Little questions with big impact on how they develop.

0 comments on "Sowing and Reaping"

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Sowing and Reaping

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 2 Corinthians 9:6

When gardening the truth of these words play out before your eyes. Each year I've had a garden I've planted a little bit more and a little bit differently. The first year I had several squash and zucchini plants which produced abundantly. My husband was glad not to see a squash for the 9 months in between gardening time after that summer. Even though these verses are amidst discussion about financial gifts to support the work of God's apostles, it applies to any area of life, including parenting.

How much and what I sow in my children's lives will determine what and how much is reaped in their lives. Although there's no direct correlation (as in a garden where some plants do better than others, drought can affect production, and critters can steal and/or destroy plants/veggies) between sowing and reaping, there is a direct relationship. If I sow impatience with my children, they will be impatient. If I sow a love for reading with my children, they will be more likely to enjoy reading. If I sow inconstency with my children, they will not trust me. Just as the type of seeds I plant in my garden determine the types of vegetation I'll reap, the seeds I plant in my children in what I teach them through lessons and through modeling will help determine the types of fruits they will develop in their lives.

As I go about my day, with the abundance of responsibilities and desires pulling at my attention, it is important for me to be mindful and intentional about what I'm sowing in my children's lives. Am I making them feel loved and special? Am I teaching them to love the Lord, themselves, and others? Am I teaching them to be responsible and unselfish? Am I paying attention to their natural abilities and talents? Am I planting and nurturing Godly values in their lives? Little questions with big impact on how they develop.

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