Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herds. Proverbs 27:23
When I was reading in Proverbs the other day I came across this verse and thought, “thankfully I do not have a flock or a herd to attend.” Then it hit me I have kids. My children are my flock.
It is my job to tend to my children just as it is the shepherds job to tend to the flocks and herds. I have to be available emotionally, spiritually, and physically in order to help them grow and develop into the person that God intends them to become. Some days I am thankful my flock is so small and other days I mourn and wish I had been blessed with more.
Raising children and loving them takes hard work and patience. One word or action can scar the tender heart of a child for life. We must take care that we use every opportunity to love them, support them and teach them. All too soon they will grow into adults and will have a flock of their own to oversee. How we raise our children will impact generations to come.
We must be on constant vigil and know the state of our children’s hearts and minds. We must ask ourselves are they well not only physically but also spiritually? It hurts my heart to hear of parents who were unaware of the pain and turmoil their children were in until after it was to late to intervene.
My prayer is that I will always be in tune with the state of my flock.