Enjoying Family

(Prov 17:6 NLT) Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.

Here Solomon sheds some light on how we should think about our children’s children and our parents. Let’s talk about the children first. It may be hard for the average Christian today to realize how important having a child was to the women of Biblical times.

In Solomon’s day most women did not have prominent positions in society. The average woman did not work outside the home, she did not have an education, and she did not deal with men in public.

Furthermore, since many men had more than one wife – guy’s, don’t get any ideas (you are struggling to keep your ONE WIFE happy) – she had to deal with the internal politics and pressures of the home. Each wife strived to have as many children as she possibly could for her husband, especially male children, so that her husband’s name and legacy could live on. When a woman was barren (could not have children), it was a terrible thing and she was often ostracized for it.

So unlike today where the words “I’m pregnant” send chills down the spines of many men and where pregnancy (in general) has a negative stigma associated with it, in Biblical times pregnancy was cause for celebration.

In one of the Psalms Solomon wrote he said, “Don't you see that children are GOD's best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior's fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children!” (127:3-5).

Children were viewed as a true blessing. And consequently, this should still be our view today. There is no reason why we should allow society’s influence to cause us to miss the reality of the blessing that children really are. I have three children and while raising children can be challenging at times, I would not give them up for anything in the world.

The fact that Jehovah would trust me to love, nurture, care for, look after, teach, train, and guide other human beings is both awesome and humbling.

I have grandchildren being a grandparent is even more awesome that being a parent. I always say “If I had known how wonderful grandchildren can be, I would have had them before I had my children!” It blesses me to see grandparents out and about with their grandchildren. Grandparents proudly show off their grandkids and talk about them with endless enthusiasm.

Solomon also mentions the fact that children should be proud of their parents. In other words, the admiration and love should go both ways. Paul said, “Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. "Honor your father and mother." This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, "things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth” (Eph 6:1-3). As believers, we should honor the parents the Father has blessed us to have and as we honor them, He will honor us.

So what does this mean to you ? It means that you should slow down long enough to thank God for your family. I know you are busy and I know you don’t think about it much, but do you realize how blessed you are? Think of your parents and think of your children (and grandchildren if you have them) and simply say, “Thank you LORD!”

Father, I simply want to thank You today for my family. I honor my parents and I thank you for entrusting me to them. I love them and I will honor them all the days of my life. I also thank You for my children (born and unborn). I take the responsibly of parenting them very seriously. I will make the impartations in their lives that You desire for me to make and when they have children, I will love on my grandchildren with all my might. I love and enjoy my family. THANK YOU LORD for blessing me with a wonderful family and I will do all that I can to honor You and them today and every day! In Jesus’ name. Amen!