March 24
And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. Luke 2:40
How every mother, father, relative and caregiver can relate to this Scripture as it applies to the children in their care! What hope for the future of any child it provides! To witness the growth of children, from infancy to adolescence (never mind adulthood!) is miraculous. It is amazing to observe them become strong of body and mind, no matter what stage of development they may be in. To have had a hand in that, through nurturing presence, is a privilege and an extraordinary gift from God! At the same time, one can’t help but think about those who struggle to continue in their efforts to grow and to survive.
Watching a child's physical development is one thing, observing emotional and spiritual progress is something else. When profound words are spoken at any age, we are amazed at the depth of their understanding and intensity of feeling. When a level of discernment has been reached which enables them to make wise choices in the everyday happenings of their lives, we are filled with gratification and contentment. It feels so good to be reassured of their competence! We are often in awe of the intelligence they possess and the unique courses their lives are taking. As their independence evolves, more often than not they can be observed searching our answers to their many questions, and we wonder what seeds have been planted in their hearts by God to propel them forward in this endless search. We question where the drive comes from and look at ourselves and other family members sometimes, in an effort to see any correlation. Then we are reminded that God has a plan for each of us; that this child’s uniqueness is a valuable part of that plan – is essential to God’s creation.
We are fortunate to witness God’s grace and goodness as we stand back in amazement watching children grow and develop. Through these experiences, we are given a glimpse of the wonder Mary and Joseph must have felt observing not only their son’s physical growth, but the awe-inspiring wisdom that radiated from Him to all in His presence.
Lord, thank you for the children in our lives and the grace you pour out on them. They grow strong under your loving care in the ways that are important to your plan for them.
Copyright© 2014 Kathleen A. Matson