In the arms of the Father
Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
The idea that women marry men like their fathers and men marry women like their mothers is not far-fetched. Many of us come from broken homes, raised by single parents, grandparents, or adopted parents. Children who grow up in ungodly households may have difficulty trusting others and God. A lack of a Biblical foundation in the household can affect our image of God the Father.
Men and women who were raised with parents and godly principles governing their homes have different experiences than those who came out of a broken home. A mother's love for her child is unconditional, regardless of how the child is born. Mothers nurture and cherish their babies and provide them with the best care. This acceptance reinforces the child from the time they are in the womb to their preteen years. When I had my first child, I believed he was the most beautiful baby in the world. In my eyes, he could do no wrong. I celebrated everything he did, and his smile brightened my world.
A mother enforces the laws that the father establishes in the home. She teaches the child about servanthood and that every child should learn to respect authority. Mothers pass down their wisdom on how to serve and manage the household. Proverbs 31 details a godly woman's duties and responsibilities for her home and business, essential to a mother's training.
Fathers enhance what the mother instills in a child's life. Have you ever noticed the difference when a father talks to a child? It is with more authority that he demonstrates the leadership he instills in his children. While the mom appreciates small achievements, the father expects more effort. He challenges the child to reach their limits, encouraging them to improve. While mom may say a mile is good enough, dad says let’s go two more. A good father recognizes what the mother instilled in the child and builds upon it, teaching them to lead with authority.
Many people are not well versed in the roles of the father and the mother, which can cause identity confusion in children. A father is more than just a sperm donor, and a mother is more than just a household caretaker. God gifted both Adam and Eve different aspects of His character. When I read accounts of women in the Bible, I understood that my role as a wife and a mother is not one to be ignored or taken for granted. There is evidence of what happens to a child when a father does not take on the role given to him by God. The repercussion is destructive.
God gave us His word, the Bible, aka the rule book, for a reason. It is to teach, instruct, and direct us to live a life that is acceptable to him. To be at peace with all men and successful with anything we put our hands to do. The enemy has done a fine job at causing generational disruption in family structure; however, we have an opportunity to break circles of divorce, abortion, and sickness in our bloodline by walking in holiness.
James 1: 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.
Each parent represents a different character of God. Due to changes in roles and children being a product of adultery, we see sin increasing. Lack of godly parenting has changed gender confusion. Men act as women and women as men. One parent was absent, or the child suffered abuse at the hands of those trusted to care for the child.
Due to the lack of love, structure, and godly training, we view God similarly as we experienced with our parents. It is hard to trust a man to care for you when you have an absent father. It isn't easy to accept yourself when your mom never accepted you and told you how beautiful, unique, and worthy you are.
As children of God, we can access God's throne room to reverse anything broken. If we do not introduce our children to God, we have failed to introduce them to the God who created them and called them His own. I believe the best gift we can give our children is the true nature of God. They must understand the spiritual forces fighting to captivate their souls.
When we take on the responsibility to nurture our children in the ways of the Lord, they will not see Him through a tainted glass. God will not have to arrange for people to correct our mistakes. They will serve the Lord with gladness and not distrust. Many parents struggle with secret sins that are left undelivered and passed down to their children.
The devil is having a field day with our children. When we are bold enough to face the giants and demons, we will safeguard our children from facing the same struggles we faced. We need to confront the hard things. Take about homosexuality, adultery, and the repercussions of these deadly sins. Training starts at home. Before the school and even our spiritual leaders touch on subjects at our meeting, parents must create an environment for their children to speak freely and for us to correct with love.
Parents, it starts with us. It begins with us looking at ourselves in the mirror to identify the brokenness. Once we have done that, we can say, "Lord, here are the broken pieces of me. Mend me for your glory." He is faithful to restore, redeem, and renew. With a new perspective and a God-given identity intact, we will be better equipped to raise the next generation of leaders to serve honorably and lead with integrity.
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