Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Psalm 127:4 ESV
One pitfall of growing older is wishing we could hold on to our children (both spiritual and physical). We loved the days when we held them on our laps to tell them stories. Such longing too quickly turns to depression, guilt or blaming someone for the change. But as today’s verse tells us, our offspring are not furniture for our homes or precious jewels to be kept in a safe deposit box. They are arrows which the good Lord has entrusted to our hands for a season. Arrows that stay in the quiver during life’s battles aren’t doing what God intended.
Of course, we innately know this about the kiddos who grow up in our homes. The big guy with the cowboy hat is our youngest son and we are delighted that he isn’t sleeping on our sofa eating nachos and watching tv! But, for those of us who have served in ministry it is far more difficult with spiritual children. We pray for them, weep with them, visit them in the hospital and eat at the same table in their homes. And then one day they are gone. It feels as if we did all the hard work and someone else now gets to enjoy the benefits! But the reality is they never belonged to us at all. They were God’s and He gave us the enormous privilege of having them as arrows in our hands for just a little while. We have put them on our bowstring, aimed them at the target and now they are flying towards the goal that God has for them. Be encouraged today that whether you are struggling in letting go of natural or spiritual children, that God keeps records. They may think of us little, never call or even remember that we taught them to fly. But flying is what God has intended. It is a beautiful sight, and He always remembers and rewards our labor of love!
praise2worshipdotnet 
Aside from your blog, gotta LOVE the deep diver t-shirt you have on it the first picture!
Keep diving deep into God’s word, my brother!
❤️&🙏, c.a.
We are near the sponge diving capital of the United States (Tarpon Springs) and have bought so many T-Shirts there, that I hardly notice. I do love boat rides and shelling, but I leave the real deep diving to the pros.
And our children keep a huge part of us with them wherever they go. I enjoyed your beautiful family pictures. Blessings, Pete!
Thanks Patty. These are mostly our grand kiddos, but I do have one of Ben, our youngest, who is now in Fort Worth. I do love them all, but just wish somebody would move closer to us!
Yes, I recognized your grands. You are so blessed! I know what you mean about wishing they lived closer. 😦
I never thought of Psalm 127:4 in that way before. Thank you for sharing your inspiration on that verse. Blessings, Pastor Pete!
Thanks for reading and joining the conversation. It’s an understanding God gave that gave some joy to an aching heart. What a wonderful freedom to know that He is directing them now!
Amen!
“They may think of us little, never call or even remember that we taught them to fly.” I needed to read this today, Pastor Pete. Thank you. Arrows are meant to fly.
It was such a joy to feel the burden of failure lift as God helped me really see with my heart how He has worked things together for good. Now I can treasure the memories without regrets. Almost nothing ended the way as I hoped, yet everything was still exactly according to His loving plan.
” our offspring are not furniture for our homes or precious jewels to be kept in a safe deposit box. They are arrows which the good Lord has entrusted to our hands for a season. Arrows that stay in the quiver during life’s battles aren’t doing what God intended.” Wow Pastor Pete such good points to accompany Psalm 127:4.
Points that I have begun to learn slowly through lots of prayers and tears. Thanks for commenting Beth.