I'm not very good at gardening (yet), but the previous owners left some prolific rhubarb. Even though I'm not a big rhubarb fan, as I was filling that box the other day I was very much enjoying the harvest; mostly because I get to give some away to family and friends. It got me thinking about the Parable of the Sower from Matthew 13...
In materials and sermons about witnessing, or sharing our faith - we often talk of being the sower. Our responsibility is to spread God's word - to sow the seed. We often don't know the true condition of the "soil" in which we sow, but we are called to share the Gospel at every chance we get and trust God to grow the fruit. In many of these situations we are not around to enjoy the harvest, but we can know we played a part as God worked through us to bring someone to Faith in Him.
But here's where being a Christian Parent can be so rewarding. As you share your faith with your family, you can be used by God to plant the seed, water the garden, remove the weeds, and every other step along the way until one day you get the blessing of the harvest - seeing your child believe in Jesus as an adult. And the best part? It's not for your own enjoyment - you get to give it away. You are sharing Jesus not just with your child, but with their children, their friends, and anyone else touched by their life.
I know there is room for discouragement - not all kids in Christian homes grow up to be Christian, even with the best farmers as parents. If this is your situation, remember - we plant the seed and tend the soil, but it is the work of God to make it grow. His relationship with the soil is between Him and the soil. Just keep doing your part as you are able, some seeds take a longer time to sprout.
Need an idea for sharing your faith with your family this week? - get some seeds and some dirt and share the parable of the sower as you plant. Jesus tells the story for you and then explains it for you too. You don't have to be an expert, you just have to talk with your kids.