Dear Fellowship Family,

 

I hope you all have had a wonderful week and enjoyed the beautiful weather God delivered after the storms. Today, I would like to build on what I shared in last week’s Friday Reflections. Last Friday, I asked our community to consider what we are modeling for our children. This week, as I have looked around our campus, God reminded me that sometimes we can learn a great deal from what our children model for us.

 

In Mark 10, Jesus says, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” God encourages us to be childlike in our faith. So what does that mean? Our children, in their innocence, wonder, and zest for life, offer us a great deal of wisdom if we can slow down long enough to view the world through their eyes.

 

Observing your child as they attempt to try something new, whether learning to tie their shoes or solving a calculus equation, reveals their resolve and perseverance. As they work to complete the task, you can see the determination in their eyes. This insight gives you a glimpse as to how well they will endure when facing a new task or challenge and may also serve as inspiration for you as we know that “perseverance produces character, and character produces hope.” (Romans 5:4)

 

As children interact with the world around them, they are naturally curious, asking questions about everything they encounter. Just as a child’s actions reveal their character, their questions reveal their heart. If you listen closely to hear not just the words but the heart of the question, what you discover may spark conversations that enrich both your child’s faith as well as your own.

   

Children model authenticity, trust, obedience, helpfulness, and so much more. As you spend some time this weekend with the remarkable children God has gifted to you to steward their hearts and minds, I pray that you take some time to notice what they may be modeling for you.

 

In humble service,

 

Dr. Kathryn M. Teston