Planting Seeds

I bet you still remember it. The words, conversation or experience you had with an adult as a child, that was so hurtful and so discouraging. An insulting note that was passed, names that were called, or fingers that were pointed. And probably regardless of the hundreds of loving and encouraging things you heard from parents, teachers and other friends, the hurtful and painful words always have weighed much more. That still applies now doesn't it? No matter the thousands of encouraging words we get on a project, if we get any sound of negativity, it's all we think about. We become consumed by the insignificant. Well, at least I do. It's my nature to dwell on the insignificant negative comments, and to allow them to outweigh the many loving and kind words I receive.

I don't know why that is, maybe some of you can wrestle through that with me. I do know a lot of it, for me, is because of my inflated pride. I try to disprove those negative comments regardless of however true they may be, because I feel the need to prove myself and my abilities to others. When in reality of the Kingdom, it doesn't matter what other people think. It doesn't.


So, with that being said the negative words hurt and most of the time it out measures the positive, loving and encouraging words. Am I telling you to shield your children from the negative? No. Because they are going to be exposed to it. Children are mean and brutal at times with their actions and exclusiveness. BUT, we as the Church can be their greatest advocates. Their greatest encouragers. Their greatest enablers. Their greatest words of affirmation. Their greatest support.
The spiritual formation and identity of our children hang on these things. For a child, a large percentage of how they come to know the character of Christ is HOW, WHEN and WHY they child is known by the community of the Church.


I'm going to challenge you on this: Do you know all of the children of our church's names? Do you know who they are BESIDES who their parents are? Do you know their gifts? Do you know their love language? I'm going to be challenging this all summer long. All of our children 4-14 are  in their most critical years of forming their identity. Are we going to recognize them as the child of the "Smiths"? OR are we going to recognize them as "Katie" who loves dance. Who loves expressing her love for the Lord through music, who is loved well through acts of service and who loves the verses in Ephesians 4?


Let's continue to show our children they have VALUE and worth. They are a critical part of our community- just as critical as their parents and grandparents.  If we can't even call them by name, what message are we sending to them? If we don't even acknowledge them standing beside their parent, what are we saying to them? It would be one thing if we were a huge congregation in which there were hundreds of children within our midst everyday. But, we aren't. You can easily form relationships with these children in order to call them by name. I will gladly help you in ANY way possible.

Proverbs 18:21 says that "the tongue has the power of life and death" and I believe that whole heartedly. We can reach into the lives of our children and show them their significance in the kingdom, or we can simply not acknowledge them. The kids are paying attention-- and taking all social and faith examples from you. Step it up!


Here are 10 phrases that can help you: On a regular basis, in any interaction with a child I try to incorporate some of these words somehow. I want them to know they have worth, I am on their side and the Community will be their greatest supporters.
1. You did an awesome job.
2. I love spending time with you.
3. That was such a wise choice.
4. You are so important to God and to me.
5. I prayed for you this week.
6. I'm so glad I got to see you today.
7. I love you.
8. God made you so special and no one can take your place.
9. You seriously rock.
10. I totally knew you could do it.
Slip these in to conversations with our kids. They hear them all the time from me, it's my job and I really do love them so much and mean these words. BUT, the power and weight of these words would be completely different coming from the mouths of those in our congregation. Begin planting the seeds of life and identity.