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Is Your Hope Deferred?
By mstrohm | July 1, 2007
Proverbs 13:12 “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”
Do you long for your children to behave and act properly? Do you dream of the day when your children will treat each other nicely? Is there a hope for a day filled with joy and fun rather than constant corrections? If only there was a pill that brought instant peace and quiet to your home!
Now that it is early summer my garden is showing signs of becoming fruitful in the near future. We have not tasted of the fruit yet, but the hope is far greater than during the toil of turning over the ground, working in the mud to plant and the huge amount of early weeding that had to take place. Oh, I still need to week, but not like those first few weeks.
I know I have repeatedly used the garden illustration but I am amazed at the parallels between gardening and raising children. In those early years of parenting our hope and excitement carry us through. But there are times when we get weary and fatigued. The hope begins to wain and fear enters. In my 20 plus years of working with parents I find this is especially true when children are fighting with each other and when one or more of your children is going through a difficult time.
Let me remind you that children are a blessing from the Lord. You may go through times when it appears there is no end to the difficult season you find yourself in, be encouraged and hang in there! Joy does come in the morning. All that “weeding” does pay off! That longing will produce a tree of life.
Psalm 127:3 “Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.”
May God’s grace and peace be with you,
Mark and Ellen Strohm
Topics: From Ellen, From Mark, Parenting | 1 Comment »
July 2nd, 2007 at 10:19 am
Great post.
I enjoy your blog.
It’s always a great read.