Parenting: A Refiner’s Fire
05.16.10
Twenty years from now, what is your desire for your children? Is it for them to “grow up”, get a degree, have some amazing job? OR do you desire MORE for your children? We do. We ask ourselves regularly, “What will this build in them?” or “How will this shape them?” We desire for our children to grow in Godly character and in deep relationship with God. We desire for them to know how much they are loved and chosen, so that they will be able to love others more freely. We make family choices based on these desires. We plan vacations around them. We choose topics for homeschooling around them. We even plan field trips around them.
We, like every parent on earth, are very aware that parenting is a refiner’s fire. God uses children, as well as many other life circumstances, to teach us where we need to grow. As our children model our words, actions, emotions, responses, we are held accountable to a higher standard every day! There is nothing like a child mimicking your attitude to put you in your place with God!!! Sometimes you don’t even need to be a parent yet- just an older sibling.
Last month we spent learning about the process of refining metals and making glass. We learned how metals are purified multiple times to increase their value, how sand is turned into glass, and how we, as Christians, are refined throughout life.
We went to a local artist workshop on making glass. He was a wonderful host to our family and took time to teach each child the process of glass making. He even gave us a tour of the historical church where his studio is located. At the end, he allowed us to stay extra and watch him work on a project. We decided to split up the family and we will do a second visit in a few months. Since there was a 2000 degree furnace involved- we thought that was a wise choice for our family! In the end, we came home with BEAUTIFUL stained glass flowers to give as a present to Nauna and Nat for their recent wedding.
We can’t wait to go back with the rest of the kids. In the meantime, we have no doubt that God will continue to supply us with our own personal “furnace” to refine us day by day!
The flowers are so beautiful – we love them. And, how great it is to see the pictures of Jake,Sophie and Si creating them-what a wonderful experience and what a wonderful, thoughtful and lasting special gift
We love you
And now a word about refining –
Try applying this information to the concept of God refining us with the heat of His love.
When we melt a precious metal, usually gold, in order to make something like a crown or a piece of jewelry, we add something called flux to the metal and then we heat everything to a VERY HOT temperature–which burns off all the impurities that would foul up the final product. And how do we know when the metal is refined (purified) enough to use for our casting? We can see our reflection in the surface of the molten metal!! I like to think about God refining me until He can see HIS reflection in me!
“Refiner’s fire–my heart’s one desire…”
AMEN!
Dear Jill & Sean -
It’s so great that you have been able to supply your children with such wonderful learning experiences and that your priority has been to see them shaped by God to be more like Himself.
I like the glass pieces a lot!
Sharon
How neat and what a wonderful experience! Our family always enjoys field trips — this sounds like a wonderful one! I love the spiritual illustration you drew — how thought provoking! Pictures are great, too.
Thanks for sharing!