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As I sit here on this Saturday morning, I am watching a thunderstorm slowly move through the trees. We have these spring storms that will pop up out of nowhere, varying in intensity from irritating to downright scary. I actually love to watch the storms roll in: the darkening of the sky, the increasing speed of the wind, and the rain turning from soft to hard. I especially love to watch the trees. These massive trees bend and sway with every gust. The tops twist and turn with the wind like they are engaged in a lively dance. Every now and then, a weak branch may snap, but for the most part, the trees hold their own. Each tree is grounded in the earth by a massive root system that has taken years to form. This root system keeps the tree anchored even in very strong winds. Ironically enough, the trees I love to watch are rooted in land owned by my parents. At this time of year when we honor our mothers and dads, I really reflect on what my wonderful parents mean to me. I was fortunate enough to grow up in a very stable home. My parents loved each other deeply (and still do!) and I always felt like they were very involved and interested in my life. Like their land that has allowed those trees to grow tall and strong, they provided me with a stable foundation, allowing my roots to develop as I grew toward adulthood. I have weathered a few storms so far in my life and although I bent and swayed with the wind and even had a few branches to break and fall to the ground, yet I still remained stable with the root system cultivated by my parents. A love and fear of God, importance of family, respect for others, a sense of humor, and a responsibility for my actions are just a few of the many roots laid by my parents. That foundation has made all the difference. As a parent now, I have to wonder what kind of root system I am cultivating for my children. Do I teach them the things that are eternally important or a love of things that are superficial? Am I a good example of Chirstian love and compassion or so they view me as a selfish human being? Are they seeing a righteous representation of a God ordained marriage or do they think love keeps track of wrongs? Am I teaching them to have a sense of humor or to take offense at everything? These are important concepts that are crucial pieces of their root system. Thankfully, I am not in this alone. My awesome God loves these children infinitely more than I ever can and He wants their roots to be grounded in Him. By committing my life daily to God in a personal relationship with Him, I am taking the most important action to ensure that I will be able to give my children the roots they need to grow tall and strong. What roots are you cultivating in your children? |
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