Spring Break ~ GROW

I don't usually blog on Sunday, but I'm writing this in advance, so it can cap the week of "Six Truths" from Spring Break with the final word that just says it all. The young years are a time to GROW.

They'll see it in their shoe size, their pant length, their mattress size, their lunch quantity, and what part of their parents' faces they look into: evidence of GROWTH. Much harder to see is the inner growth that happens during the all important years of maturing. Many kids today are simply left to themselves, often unattended, with hopes that they'll grow in the right direction. Some do. Many don't.

Spring is such a great time to see this. There are bulbs in my front yard that have been saving up their energy, just waiting for some warmth to blow over them and some sun to shine on them, so they could reach their potential and burst forth as something beautiful. So it is with our kids. They need the warmth of our acceptance and love, the gentle rain of our prayers and words of guidance, and the light of God's truth shining on them. With such a perfect combination, they are sure to grow well.

We have to do our part to feed them what they need to nurture them and to put them in good soil where they can prosper. Put them in weak soil with little to encourage their success, and they will be more likely to be overtaken by weeds or to shrivel up for lack of the good things.

Tell them you want them to grow. Pray out loud and let them hear how you desire their growth. Choose their gift and their privileges and their company to provide for their growth. Model the security in Jesus, the longing for eternal rewards, the investment in God's things, and the care for needs that come with life, and they will be more likely to grow. And if you want them to set patterns for long term healthy growth, encourage them to spend time each day in God's Word and learning to talk to Him and to listen; help them grow deep and daily. If this really IS your Spring Break, what are planning that will really help your kids to GROW up in their maturity in Christ? Maybe you could have a quiet time with them daily to help jump start their habits, or maybe you could just start a conversation to share about your own personal quiet time (hint, hint) or to ask them about theirs. Whether it's a seed or a sapling or a young tree, help it grow.

1 Peter 2:2

"Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation"

Ephesians 4:15

"speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ"

When Jacob stood in front of me and looked over my nose the other day, I had a moment of sadness ... and then I remembered that I should rejoice. Kids are wired to GROW, and we should celebrate their GROWTH in becoming the people God dreams for them to be. THAT's a message they need to hear during Spring Break and every week of their year!

If I can pray for a young person in your life, I would love it if you would send me an email and let me know. It would be my pleasure to pray with you as they grow.

See you tomorrow for Marriage Mondays when my blog friend, Cindy, will share a guest post!