Children's Moment: Love through Obedience

I have a love-dislike relationship with the month of May.  You see, I absolutely LOVE to garden.  As soon as we get a day or two of warm weather, I am outside digging in the dirt.  I get really excited and want to plant all of my seeds and starter plants so I can harvest delicious vegetables as soon as possible.  You know the problem though?  The weather in May is fickle, which means that it changes a lot.  One day it might be sunny and 80 degrees and the next day there could be snow on the ground.  One week it could be beautiful and the next week we have tornadoes and torrential rain and wind.  I have had to learn LOTS of patience over the years when planting my garden.  I have had to set-up a few simple rules for planting, and it is tough to stick by my rules, especially when the weather looks beautiful.

The rules I have made for planting help to make sure I don’t waste seed or time and also help to ensure my plants are healthy and survive the fickle May weather.  It’s hard to hold off planting things sometimes, but after years of experience, I know it is better to wait and have beautiful crops, then to work twice as hard and end up with a very small harvest or none at all.  In other words, my love for gardening has been teaching me patience.

Life is like this too though.  As you grow-up, your parents will set-up rules to help you along the way.  Those rules are meant to protect you, keep you safe.  You will sometimes feel like disobeying your parent’s rules because something looks fun or you just want to try it, but remember, your parents really do know best. They were kids once and teenagers and young adults, they have had to learn the same lessons you are learning now.

In Corinthians 13:4-5, it says “Love is patient and kind: love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.  It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;”

Always remember this, your parents love you above and beyond all else.  Don’t get impatient with growing-up and having rules.  Love your parents back by listening and obeying their rules, even when you don’t really want to obey.  Just like the bountiful harvests which I get to reap because of my patience and following simple rules, you will get to experience great things in your life by following the rules and path your parents set-up for you.   Be patient and love your parents through obedience.

Let us pray:

Dear Jesus, thank you for allowing us to come into your house of worship on such a beautiful morning.  Thank you for blessing these children with adults who love and care for them and who set-up healthy boundaries.  I pray that each one of these children are able to see the love which is given to them.  Guide them along their path.  We love you and praise you, in Jesus name, Amen.