I know the Bible says not to be weary in well-doing, but I was just about in sin today because I am worn out from nurturing children, which is a good thing. Doing so from 1-4 a.m. is not a good thing, at least not for my flesh. My one year old awoke with a scream. I held him and brought him to my bed, thinking he was afraid from a scary dream and just needed to be with his parents. But he babbled for an hour and then said, “apple,” his catchall phrase for “I’m hungry.” After feeding him two bananas and water, his squirming in my bed and my putting him back in his bed, he finally fell asleep in my bed in the 4 o’clock hour. At some point in all of this my seven year old came into the room to say that he couldn’t breathe. My husband gave him some medicine, and we all fell asleep, hard, missing the 5:45 alarm and me rising at 6:18 in a panic to get my husband and son up and ready to go to work and school.

After ironing clothes and preparing breakfast and lunch, they were on track and would still be on time. But right before eating breakfast, my seven-year-old tells us for the first time about a boy bullying him at school, so we have to pray, counsel, encourage and coach him to fortify him to go to school. His countenance was lifted and he went to school with confidence. But mama is worn out from nurturing, and I am, frankly, a bit numb. But I know this is the time that I must remember why God called me to nurture my children and the benefits of doing so.

When you nurture your children—teaching and correcting them with biblical principles, showing them affection and genuine concern for their welfare and providing for their needs—the Bible promises the following:

*A father will be proud of his child (Proverbs 15:20).
*Children won’t despise their mother (Proverbs 15:20).
*Children won’t be a grief to their father or bitterness to their mother (Proverbs 17:25).
*Children will have a firm foundation (Proverbs 22:6).
*Foolishness will be driven out of children’s hearts (Proverbs 22:15).
*Children will be saved from destruction (23:14-15).
*Parents will rejoice (Proverbs 23:24-25).
*Children will be wise (Proverbs 29:15).
*A mother will not be disgraced (Proverbs 29:15).
*Parents will be at peace and delighted (Proverbs 29:17).

I can’t promise that you will never grow weary in nurturing, but I know that God’s word is true, and you will reap the harvest above if you don’t grow weary. So keep your call to nurture and the benefits of doing so in the front of your mind and surely you will have the incentive you need to press on to do this great work in your children’s lives.

Copyright 2009 by Rhonda J. Smith