Think of Your Kids as Arrows

What the Bible says about Families

A father passed by his son's bedroom and was astonished to see the bed nicely made up and everything neat and tidy. Then he saw an envelope propped up on the pillow. It was addressed, "Dad." With the worst premonition, he opened the envelope and read the letter with trembling hands:

Dear Dad,
It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend because I wanted to avoid a scene with you and Mom. I've been finding real passion with Joan, and she is so nice. I knew you would not approve of her because of all her piercings, tattoos, tight motorcycle clothes, and the fact that she is so much older than I am. It's not just her passion, Dad. She really gets me.

Joan says that we are going to be very happy. She owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood—just enough for the whole winter. We share a dream of having many children.

Please don't worry, Dad. I'm 15 and I know how to take care of myself. I'm sure we'll be back to visit someday so you can get to know your grandchildren.

Your son, Chad
P.S. Dad, none of the above is true. I'm over at Tommy's house. I just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than the report card that's in my desk drawer. I love you! Call when it is safe for me to come home.

Here is what the Bible says about our children.

3 Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. 5 How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed When they speak with their enemies in the gate. (Psalms 127:3-5 NASB)

Children are a blessing. They are a lot of work. They are also expensive. I think of the definition I heard of fathers-they are the guys who have pictures in their wallets where their money used to be.

God has declared the right way to think of them… a reward, part of one’s legacy. They are like arrows in the hands of parents. Parents are to raise them, and help aim them [like arrows] and shoot them out into their future. Children need some one to help “aim” their lives. We are to value our children… see them as valuable. We are an important part of their future and they are a vital part of ours (they choose our retirement homes for us!). Our culture tells us they are a hassle and a burden to our careers. God tells us we are blessed by having more the 1.3.

If we value them and help them become the people they are to be, we live in a great reward- a great blessing! Just imagine what kind of homes we would have if we valued our children the way God want us to. What if we had homes that had God’s definition of love in them?

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV)

When God’s kind of love is the goal of life, children have a place to prepare to be “shot like an arrow” into a successful life. By the grace of God we can do this.