As a parent to teens, I spend a lot of time thinking about how can I better parent my kids during the teen years. I ask myself, I am doing the right things? What if I am making big mistakes?
I am coming to realize that my children have their own minds and their own wills. I cannot control everything they do (which is very difficult as a parent).
Yesterday, I was asking myself, what Biblical principles can I follow to be a better parent. This morning, I found a verse in II Corinthians about sowing and reaping.
The Bible frequently uses metaphors especially of sowing and reaping. The principle is clear what we sow is what we will get. A farmer that plants many seeds, doesn’t expect to get one plant for the harvest. He expects a great harvest.
Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
II Corinthians 9:6
In this chapter, Paul is discussing giving. But throughout the Bible, the principle of sowing and reaping applies to many areas of our lives.
What does this verse mean for parenting? As a parent, I am planting seeds in my children’s hearts. I plant seeds like Bible verses, Bible character studies, and living a good example for them to follow. With much prayer, I believe that God will give a bountiful harvest.
This verse also reminds me not to be afraid to teach the Bible to my children. If I only teach them a little Bible, my results may also be small. But if I teach generously and consistently, I may have a bigger result.
Here’s the hard part, waiting for your seeds to develop and grow. While our role is to plant the seeds, it’s God’s purpose and plan to create the harvest (II Cor. 9:10). We are not promised a harvest and sometimes we may wait a long time to see the results.
Today, I encourage you to continue planting the seeds in your children and eventually in your grandchildren and trust God for a bountiful harvest.
