“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” – 1 Corinthians 3:6-7
HI FAMILY!
As I stood by my kitchen sink rinsing out a container I just used, two of our sons were scurring around behind me getting their final things together. Our eldest son would be down any minute to rush them out to the car so they all won’t be late for work. In a world wind of a couple minutes, they finally kissed me goodbye and left.
Standing by the sink, in the calm of the moment, my thoughts and heart became filled with gratitude. I had just come in from my daily walk, but I knew what had taken place just minutes before I bid my young men goodbye. It happens many mornings, especially when I am out on my walks. But it’s been a pleasure to sometimes witness the tail-end of it as I return home.
Before our three young men leave for work, our eldest son, Jasahn, does something he has taken on as his responsibility each morning. He stands in the hallway of our second floor, with his work bag on his shoulder, and in a loud voice he begins to pray. The second floor of our house is what I would call the middle ground of where everyone would be. Sometimes a couple people may be up on the third floor getting themselves together. The younger ones are usually congregated in their rooms which, incidentally, is on the second floor. Then there may be someone downstairs in the kitchen, as my two sons were today, getting last minute food and water packed for lunch. So Jasahn’s method is to make sure everyone is involved in the prayer. He connects them with his loud echoes of appreciation to God, our Father, in prayer. As he closes out with an “Amen”, many times softer echoes of “Amen” can be heard from his siblings wherever their positions may be. Today, as I consider this, I am so very grateful.
Paul makes it clear in scripture that although one may “plant” and one may “water”, it is God who causes increase or growth. Over the years Sam and I planted as well as watered a number of things in our children’s lives, one of which is prayer in the mornings together to start your day and definitely prayer before you leave the house to cover your day. To experience and witness the Lord’s increase through our children as a result of our daily discipline, is nothing short of beautiful.
Sam and I started having prayer sessions with our children when they were just babies. As we grew in our prayer life and relationship with the Lord, we taught them and they grew with us. We eventually went from one prayer session a day as a family to praying together twice a day. Prayer is so interwoven in our every day lives that its become habitual and first nature. So much so that leaving the house without prayer feels odd or uncomfortable. I recognize that having our connection as a family through prayer is something very precious and I don’t take it for granted. With all the distractions that society offers, I’m so very thankful that our children still value the importance of prayer in their lives. That’s the Lord’s increase!
It is with my Lord’s increase that today, as I stood at my kitchen sink, I was able to gladly and gratefully say “Thank You Father!” Thank you that our twenty-three year old son still rallies his siblings together, even without us being present, to honor God in prayer.
Much Love & God’s Very Best! Your Family at God’s Dynamics Family Building
