Raising Children Who Love God's Creation

 

One of my greatest hopes as a mother isn't simply that my children enjoy being outdoors.  I hope they learn to see God's fingerprints everywhere they look.

In the first pages of Scripture, we're reminded that God looked upon His creation and declared it good.

The mountains, the rivers, the birds, the wildflowers, the trees, the animals, the changing seasons.  Every sunrise and every sunset points us back to the Creator.

When we teach our children to notice these gifts, we're teaching them to notice God.

Watching the Sunrise

There is something special about waking before the world, the air is still, the birds are beginning to sing, the sky slowly fills with color.

Some of my favorite mornings have begun with a cup of coffee, horses grazing nearby, and the quiet reminder that God's mercies are new every morning.

The sunrise reminds us that every day is another gift, another opportunity to love, to serve, to grow, to give thanks.

The Beauty of Wildflowers

Wildflowers have become some of my favorite teachers, they bloom quietly without asking for attention.

They remind us that God delights in beauty, even in places where no one else may notice.  Jesus Himself pointed to the flowers of the field when teaching about God's faithful provision.  If He cares so deeply for the wildflowers, how much more does He care for us?

Sometimes the smallest flowers become the biggest reminders of His love.

Listening to the Birds

Children have a wonderful way of noticing birds before adults do, they stop, they point, they wonder.  I hope they never lose that sense of curiosity.  Every birdsong reminds us that creation praises its Creator.

When we slow down long enough to listen, we're reminded that we live in a world filled with beauty and purpose.

Rivers That Slow Us Down

There is something peaceful about sitting beside a river, the steady movement of the water reminds us that life doesn't have to be rushed.  Some of our sweetest family memories have been made skipping rocks, watching fish swim beneath the surface, and simply enjoying the quiet.

The river reminds us that God's peace often meets us when we slow down enough to receive it.

Horses: A Gift of Trust

Our horses have given our family so much more than trail rides and adventures. they've taught us responsibility, patience, gentleness, perseverance.  They've shown my children what it means to faithfully care for another living creature, they've celebrated new life with us, they've walked beside us through seasons of grief.  They've reminded us that every animal is part of God's incredible creation and worthy of our care and respect.

What a privilege it is to be entrusted with these beautiful companions.

Lessons From the Garden

Every garden tells a story.  A tiny seed is planted in faith, it grows slowly, requiring patience, care, sunshine, and rain.  Some seasons bring abundant harvests, others remind us that we aren't in control.  Gardening teaches children that many of life's greatest blessings take time.

It also reminds us that God is always at work, even beneath the surface where we cannot yet see it.

Respecting the Land

One of the greatest lessons we can teach our children is that the land doesn't belong to us, it belongs to God, we are simply caretakers.

When we pick up trash along the river, care for our animals, plant trees, protect wildlife, or tend a garden, we're practicing stewardship.  We're honoring the Creator by caring for His creation.

That's a lesson worth passing from one generation to the next.

Every Good Gift

James reminds us, "Every good and perfect gift is from above."

The sunrise, the rain, fresh vegetables from the garden, a gentle horse, birds singing outside the window, wildflowers blooming after a spring rain.  These aren't ordinary things.  They're daily reminders that God is generous.

He fills the world with beauty because that's who He is.

The Legacy I Hope to Leave

I don't simply want my children to love the outdoors, I want them to love the One who created it.  I hope they grow into adults who stop to admire a sunrise, who smile when they hear birds singing.  Who appreciate the miracle of seeds becoming food, who care for animals with compassion, who leave the land better than they found it.  Who see God's goodness reflected in every season.

Because when children learn to love God's creation, they're also learning to love the Creator.  And I can't imagine a more beautiful legacy than that.

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Around Our Table This Week

Take a walk together this week, leave the phones behind.  See how many signs of God's creation your family can find.

A butterfly, a bird's nest, a blooming flower, a deer in the distance, beautiful sunset.

When you return home, ask one simple question:  "What part of God's creation made you smile today?"

You might be surprised how quickly your children begin to notice the beauty that has been there all along.

Until next time, may your coffee stay warm and your children stay little just a little longer.

-Maggie