Homethis morning I read psalm 142-144. I came across these verses…
[Psa 144:12-14 ESV] - May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown,
our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace;
may our granaries be full, providing all kinds of produce;
may our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields;
may our cattle be heavy with young, suffering no mishap or failure in bearing;
may there be no cry of distress in our streets!
Visiting the farm this week and the surrounding farmland and communities where my dad and mom grew up brings some of this to light. However, for most of us, the references to farming and crops and livestock go over our head. We don’t really have a clue about the importance and life dependence on these things, mainly because we get our stuff from a grocery store. We are still dependent up on these things, it is just that we are often removed from them in this day and age and we purchase with desk work rather than land work in many ways.
As a parent, I grapple with how to raise my children. even verse 12 is difficult for these days. We don’t often see the importance of the health of a plant or the pillar in a palace. A healthy, mature plant is not easily taken down by pests and pestilence. It is strong and healthy, drawing deeply from it’s roots. We don’t frequent palaces, but corner pillars support the building, these mentioned are polished and beautiful. more on this later, the children (speaking of) just woke up… think about your children, now, or grown or future… how do you desire them to be raised? It doesn’t happen by chance, but by a plan.