Seek First: When our Children Point to Heaven

For those of you who have just dropped by, I’m digging for treasure in God’s Word this month. Matthew 6:33 promises, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” I believe “all these things” includes the treasures I’m seeking in the diaper pail –the jewels of joy, nuggets of wisdom and pearls of peace–but before I seek the gems, I must seek the Giver of good gifts (James 1:17). I’d be honored if you’d join me!

When I was pregnant with our firstborn, my husband I used to play a silly game of what if. We would list all of our best qualities and imagine, “What if this child gets the best of each of us?”

Watch out world, this kid will make an impression!

Then, with a chuckle, we’d imagine a child who inherited only our weaknesses. “What if this poor child inherits the worst of both of us?” we would speculate.

Watch out juvenile court, you haven’t seen anything yet!


While we were determined to love whatever unique combination of our personalities God knit together, we certainly had a preference as to which traits we passed on and which ones we kept to ourselves. Now, twelve years and five children later, we can honestly say we’ve never been granted a child whom we could have imagined.  Not one of our little blessings bears all of our strengths combined, nor does a single child carry the burden of all of our weaknesses. Countless times we have marveled at the many different personalities God has concocted from the same two parents. We have celebrated their gifts, questioned their limitations, and sometimes wondered what God was thinking when He put each child together. How could God’s perfect plans for our children include the “thorns” He has allowed in each of their lives?


Great freedom has come in recognizing that our children are not made merely for this world. Developing a “far-sighted” approach to parenting has allowed us to celebrate our children’s unique designs even when we don’t understand God’s reasons for their specific make-up. As only the Potter could, God has actually used our children’s flaws to adjust our vision and give us more “eternal eyes.”


I cherish the wisdom revealed in the words of Alan, a father of a fifteen year old son who was born with mental limitations. Some kids, by their gifting point to this world; others, by what they lack, point to heaven. Once we realize that God has a purpose for our children’s gifts AND their limitations, we are free to love our children as they are, rather than worry about what they are not (Devotions for Sacred Parenting).

Most likely, the blind man’s parents in today’s Bible reading had no idea that God would use their son’s limitation so that “the work of God might be displayed in his life” (John 9:3). Yet, their child’s blindness provided a format for Jesus to reveal his identity as Messiah (see Isaiah 29:18, 35:5). Similarly, we cannot imagine how God may use in our children’s life the very “limitations” we long to erase. Today, let’s ask God to grant us “eternal eyes” and a confidence in His ability to complete the good work He’s begun in our imperfect but perfectly-planned children!


Parent’s Pondering: How might my children’s limitations “point to heaven?” Ask God to give you confidence in His perfect plans for your child- plans that include their strengths and their weaknesses.