Parenting lessons from the garden
Like many people, we started our first garden this year. I honestly don’t remember what inspired me to do so, but before I knew it, we were filling raised beds with soil. Once the last frost passed, we planted various seeds, which was quite the event with a three-year-old and a two-year-old in tow. I envisioned laughter, photographic moments and a perfectly prepped garden. What I got were muddy kids, unmarked plots and a disaster in the carrot section.
Sweet Kendalyn, the younger of the two, naively (and adorably) dumped an entire packet of one hundred seeds within a 6-inch radius. Being the rookie gardener that I am, I left them. Weeks went by with no evidence of her error, so I forgot all about it – that is, until the seeds started germinating. We now have a small patch with a TON of sprouts. The overcrowded carrots, however, are a sharp contrast to the bare plots producing no fruit because I only planted one or two seeds that didn’t germinate.
I saw a striking correlation between the garden beds and our children. As parents, we have the privilege and responsibility to sow the seeds of God’s Word into their hearts. Yet in this case, we want to follow Kendalyn’s lead.
“It’s impossible to protect our children from every weed, but we can certainly prevent the possibility of bare plots by resolving to get our hands dirty, sow tons of seeds and water them.”
In 2 Corinthians 9:6 Paul says, “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”
We know that in this case he’s talking about financial giving, but the principle remains the same. If seeds are not planted, nothing will grow.
Moms and Dads, as well as friends, relatives, and “aunts” and “uncles” in the family of God: we are the sowers, and the children in our midst are garden plots with space for seeds. Be a Kendalyn. Dump the seeds! All sorts of seeds.
Tell them about the Lord’s holiness and righteousness. Do they know that He’s strong and mighty? Teach them songs about their sin and His forgiveness! Tell them about our beautiful Savior, Jesus, the brave warrior who laid down His life on their behalf so that they could live forever. Plant seeds of the Gospel, which is powerful enough to save their souls. Memorize Scripture with them that will literally be stored in their hearts all of the days of their lives. Shower them with seeds about His faithfulness that are written down in His Word. Show them His sense of humor and attention to detail. And tell them that He’s coming back. Oh, how we wait for His return with eager expectation!
How can we not tell them all the things?! Isn’t this what God expects of us?
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise” (Deut. 6:6-7).
The world around us is sowing lies, empty promises and half-truths into the hearts of our children. Some of these weeds are sown blatantly and are therefore easier to uproot, but most of them are planted discreetly and go dangerously unnoticed. It’s impossible to protect our children from every weed, but we can certainly prevent the possibility of bare plots by resolving to get our hands dirty, sow tons of seeds and water them – all while begging the Lord to grow the seeds unto eternal life (1 Cor. 3:6-7).
Katlynne Mirabal is a pastor’s wife, serves as the children’s ministry director at Seacoast Community Church in Portsmouth, NH, and is publishing children’s books, which you can find at www.missteachermom.com.