"We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done" (Psalm 78:4)
A Sunday school teacher once had a discussion with a person who firmly believed that children should not be given formal religious instruction but should be free to choose their own religious faith when they reached maturity.
The teacher, not wanting to disagree outright, decided to demonstrate her point. She invited the person to see her garden. As they walked in, the visitor was taken aback. "Do you call this a garden?" he exclaimed. "There is nothing but weeds here!" The teacher, with a gentle smile, replied, "Well, you see, I did not wish to infringe upon the liberty of the garden in any way. I was giving the garden a chance to express itself."
Friends, just as a garden left untended becomes overrun with weeds, our faith and the faith of our children can wither and become choked by the distractions and temptations of this world if not carefully nurtured.
When we teach our children about God, we plant seeds of faith in their hearts. These seeds, nurtured with the words of the Bible, watered with prayer, and sunlight with God’s love, will grow into strong, vibrant plants that can withstand the storms of life. They will know who to turn to in times of trouble. They will have a foundation of faith that will guide them throughout their lives.
Psalm 78:4 tells us, "We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done." This verse reminds us of our responsibility to pass down our faith and cultivate the spiritual garden in our hearts and the hearts of our children. We must be intentional in our instruction, just as a gardener is intentional in planting and tending to each flower and plant.
So, let us take up the tools of prayer, scripture, and community to cultivate a faith that not only sustains us but also flourishes and spreads to those around us. Let us be the gardeners God has called us to be, diligently working to ensure that our faith and the faith of the next generation is strong and vibrant.
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