God's Gifts

Behold, children are the heritage of Jehovah, 

The fruit of the womb a reward.  Psalms 127:3

The Lord has blessed me and my wife with three blessed children. Though we never expected to have children when we got married due to some medical reasons, still the Lord blessed us in His time. In faith, I accepted whatever the Lord gifted me with. To me, every good gift comes from the Lord and I received them as God's blessings. My wife is a gift, so are all my children. They have been my joy in the Lord and I only pray that my wife and I can be a proper shepherd to the gifts God have bestowed us with, our children. 

My prayer for them has always been that of the Lord Jesus' childhood testimony: 

And the little child grew and became strong, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him. Luke 2:42

As they are growing in grace, I have been praying for the Lord's covering upon each one of them; to be covered from all the attacks of the enemy. That they may grow in the reverential fear of God, in the wisdom and knowledge of God, and that they all become sanctified vessels filled with the word of God and the Holy Spirit to be useful vessels to God. I believe the Lord would hear this sincere prayer of mine for the children He has blessed me with.

All of them have been growing in their academic life normally. So far so good. I am surprised by the pace of growth they have been showing. In corresponding to their age, their learning processes have been laudable. Though they are just 13, 11, and 7 years old respectively, the things they have already learned are amazing. And in many cases, they have crossed over their peers; learning beyond their level. And I am glad that they did it. Praise the Lord!

My first daughter developed a liking for reading and researching. She has been able to work all day long every day to do her school works, all the assignments, researching on her own on the internet, and did not require my help at all. My wife helps her wherever necessary. But mostly she could manage all her works by herself. She also developed a hobby of reading and painting. My son too grows at a normal pace in his studies. And similarly, he likes academic stuff especially Maths, Science, and Quiz on general knowledge. He has also learned and picked up things very fast.  My younger daughter too shows very good progress in her mental development. At her age, she could create her own PPT presentation, made her own stories, and did many things I would not expect from someone of her age.

On the physical activities, they learn whatever they could get hold of. Cycling they all learned it in no time. Music, they all learned it steadily on their won. Keyboard, with the help of my wife, and other instruments like the Ukelele on their own. Once a sister gifted an old roller skate, within few days, by getting help from a YouTube video, they learned skating within our living room. Now they have been so good at it and it has become their good time pass after their class works.

Above all these, we taught them to read their Bible every day, which they all have been reading daily as a part of their life now. And family prayer every night, with prayer for various needs now and then. Gradually, we also pray for their salvation and spiritual growth. We a cautious not to give them any premature spiritual knowledge. We want them to grow and learn in time.

As much as children are gifts from God they must also be consecrated to the Lord for His purpose; in whatever He pleases to use them. As far as I am concerned, I have already consecrated all my children to the Lord already, as much as I consecrated my whole life to serve Him.

Last week on my 43rd Birthday, on the 21st of June, my younger daughter prepared a Birthday Card for me. It was so lovely and it meant much to me a the card is also filled with meanings.  This reminds me of the blessing the Lord has bestowed upon me. The cards are enclosed and the messages are loud and clear.

Praise the Lord for all our children, God's gifts to us! Our family is for Christ and the Church, our gifts to God!