Gospel for God’s Children by Linda Shields:
“It’s Lesson Time on the Farm”
On the farm there are 16 new Canada geese babies that hatched earlier this spring. It is so interesting to watch them as they grow and change almost daily. Grandpa and I sit on the porch in the evenings as the parents bring their babies into the back yard to eat the corn we put out for them. God has given instincts (or instructions) to the papa goose to teach and protect his family. He will lead the babies to the corn and the mama goose follows behind making sure none of the babies straggle behind. Papa goose will then put his head down, flap his wings, and chase the other geese and ducks away from the corn so his family can have plenty of food. It is funny to see the babies as they get older act just like their fathers, putting their heads down and charging at the other geese, while flapping their featherless, stubby little winglets. They too can make the other geese run from the pile of corn.
Yesterday I was working in the yard when I heard a commotion out on the lake. The geese families had their babies out on the water teaching them to flap their stubby little wings, paddle their feet, and run on top of the water so they will learn how do take off and someday fly from off the water. The babies were all practicing this procedure, and doing a pretty good job.
The parent geese were teaching their babies how to defend themselves and survive in the wild. These lessons are necessary for the little geese to one-day be able to survive on their own, and in turn teach their babies these valuable survival skills.
Our God gave us earthly parents to teach and protect us much like the Canadian geese teach and protect their young. It is important that the little geese babies (or goslings) learn to listen to their parents so they don't fall prey to predators. Parents have a big responsibility to teach their children how to live and grow up to be responsible adults too. God has words for children to help them know the importance of listening to their parents, so they will be safe and learn to do what is right.
Ephesians chapter 6 verse 1 says, "Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do" Verse 2 says, " Honor your father and mother." This is the first of the Ten Commandments that ends with a promise. Verse 3: If you honor your father and mother, "you will live a long life, full of blessing."
Just like the little geese listen and learn survival skills from their parents so they will be safe, God wants us to listen and learn from our parents so that we too will be safe, and live righteous lives full of blessing.
Let us tell God thank you for giving us parents to teach and protect us.
Heavenly Father, just like you gave the baby geese parents to teach and protect them, thank you for giving us godly parents to not only teach us for our own protection, but to teach us about you and your commandments. We thank you for your laws that are for our good. Your laws protect us, and keep us safe. Help us to honor our parents by obeying them, and doing what they teach us. Help our parents who have been given the huge responsibility of teaching their children about you, your laws and commands. In Jesus name we pray, Amen
God Bless