The letter to Ephesians 5:1-2 says, “Since you are God’s dear children, you must try to be like Him. Your life must be controlled by love, just as Christ loved us and gave His life for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice that pleases God.” 

When a young girl told me that her siblings and mother hated her, I asked her, “Why do you think they hate you?” And she said, “Because I resemble my father and he loves me more than my sisters who resemble my mother.

When my father is away, they keep off from me and beat me up if I protest.” So, she becomes lonely when her father is away from home. What we read in the Bible about Isaac and Rebecca his wife and the game they played through their children became even more vivid in the life of this family.

Col. 3:18-21 says, “Wives, submit to your husbands, for that is what you should do as Christians. Husbands love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, it is your Christian duty to obey your parents always, that is what pleases God. Parents, do not irritate your children, or they will become discouraged.”

When Esau confronted his father, whom he served faithfully over the years, he said, “Your brother came and deceived me. He has taken away your blessing.” And Esau said, “This is the second time that he cheated me.

No wonder his name is Jacob. He took my rights as the first-born son, and now he has taken away my blessing.” Gen 27:35-36. As the cattle grazes, the young ones watch them. 

It may be difficult for you to love all your children equally but we do not have to display to their knowledge our weakness in this regard. If you create war for your children, God may not forgive you. Both Isaac and Rebecca died leaving their children Esau and Jacob with a big gap between them.

Are you in the habit of setting up your children against your spouse for any reason? Remember that God sees all that we do and He commanded us to love one another as He loves us! Jesus said in Mt 18:15, “If your brother sins against you, go to him and show him his fault.” Besides, husband and wife are one flesh; do no harm to your body, rather help him or her to grow!

“And brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death.” Mk 13:12. 

A 16-year-old girl defiled her father and uncle’s warning and related her ordeal with them to outsiders when she realized that her enemies were within her family. At 13, her father started having sexual intercourse with her after her mother’s sad demise. Later, her supposed gentle uncle joined the league.

Within 4 years, her father impregnated her twice while her uncle impregnated her once. Some women are praying for the fruit of the womb but a 16-year-old girl committed three abortions. Is the world coming to an end? Lord, forgive us our sins!

A friend told me how he hates to see his mother and sister. His father died long ago and his mother had to care for him and his sister. His mother was a petty trader. She spent almost all she had for their education to university level.

Yet he had a grudge against her for loving his sister more than him. He was stubborn right from infancy, because he was the only boy. Mt. 23:11-12 says, “He who is greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

For a whole year, he lived in the same city without visiting his mother and sister. “Respect your father and your mother; and love your neighbor as you love yourself” Mt. 19:19.

When little Gift at the age of 8 was given an award for being the only student who did not cry in her class for a whole Academic Section her mother said, “But you cry at home every day! And now, the School Management wants to give you an award for not crying in the school.” Then, Gift replied saying, “Mummy, I do not cry in the school because my teacher does not like it.

But I cry at home every day to make you happy. Remember you told me you were not happy with me when I refused to cry when I was born. Then, doctors and nurses had to help you beat me before I cried.” 

On 9th April 2014 at Vatican City, Pope Francis asked his audience, “When mums get exhausted and they scream at their kids, is this wisdom?” They replied “No!” Instead, when a mum takes the child and scolds him gently and says, “You don’t do this for this reason and explains with a lot of patience, is this God’s wisdom” he asked and they answered, “Yes!” He described the spiritual gift of wisdom as “Seeing the world, situations, circumstances and problems with God’s eye.”

He concluded saying, “When we are in communion with the Lord, it’s like the spirit transfigures our hearts and makes us perceive everything with his warmth and liking.” 

Surely children are gifts from the Lord and it is binding on parents to appreciate and protect these gifts to any length. Jesus said to the Father, “While I was with them, I kept them safe by the power of your name, the name you gave me. I protected them, and not one of them was lost, except the man who was bound to be lost” John 17:12.

Almost all married couples desire to have children. But do you know that it is your responsibility to care for these children as their Good Shepherd and lay down your life for their sake when the need arises?