God loves to work in partnership with man. Since the first man was placed on earth, God gave him a garden and expected him to tend it.
Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it (Gen 2:15).
Another version says: “cultivate and guard it”
As parents, a ministry God has given us all are our children. What a privilege to be counted worthy by God to build a life on earth. We need to be examples as Godly parents and bring up our children in the fear and knowledge of the living God.
My child is my garden, my responsibility!
While my child is under my care, I have authority and influence over him and God has entrusted ME to “cultivate and guard” him, and not the Sunday School teacher or the church pastor. Garden of Eden was entrusted to Adam and it was his responsibility, so if a talking snake was found in his garden (marriage), it was his problem and not God’s.
You see, when weeds are found in my garden or when my healthy plants begin to wither, I, as a gardener, hold myself accountable. Or if a snake enters my garden and begins speaking, it is because I as a gardener have not been alert enough to monitor my garden and nip the danger in its early stages.
My child is my garden and my responsibility and I will be careful of the things of the world that would try to pollute my garden through the eye gate, ear gate and the heart gate.
Here are two ways, I can take take care of my garden:
1. Watch the environment
For my garden to flourish I need to be watchful of the environment it grows in. Children are a reward from God, and every good and perfect gift comes from heaven (Psalms 127:3, James 1:17). The safest environment I can give my child is their original one he was once in.
God’s presence is that safest environment! Praise and worship, prayers, fellowship with saints are ways to host the presence of God. When Mary, the mother of Jesus went to meet her cousin Elizabeth the baby in her womb leapt (Luke 1:41), because he sensed the presence of heaven (Jesus) near him.
2. Show him my walk
It is also important for me to ensure that I keep my child close to me as I walk with God.
He needs to see the relation I have with my God and know that he is called to walk with God too, and do much more exploits.
My encounters need to be his encounters. Abraham allowed Isaac to witness his life closely. I believe he would talk to his son and tell him stories of how God led him out of his father’s house, how he visited him in his dreams, how he heard the voice of God, the night when he was called out of his tent to see the stars, the promise, the covenant. I believe, Abraham allowed Isaac to walk closely with him, if not so, he wouldn’t have stayed still on the altar (Gen 22:9). That day wasn’t just Abraham test, but Isaac too, trusting his father and his faith in the unseen God.
Abraham was wise to bring up his son in the right environment, Isaac grew up seeing and encountering his father’s God, however it wasn’t the same for his children. Isaac’s children’s lives was way different from his. Apart from Isaac praying for his wife’s womb to be opened (Gen 25), and advising him not to marry we don’t see him involved in their journey knowing God. While Abraham’s and Isaac’s blessing were Jacob’s portion, his journey was full of struggles.
As a parent I have a responsibility, to introduce and bring up my child in His ways. While God has to be his personal God, and he will have to make this decision, but I am given the responsibility and I can’t run away from it!
Say it out loud: My garden is my responsibility and I carry enough grace to cultivate and guard it. And do it exceeding well! If Abraham had the grace to do it, so can I.
Ruta Miller
