If You Love Them...

“She made a vow and said, ‘O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.’” 1 Samuel 1:11

“Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with a three-year-old bull and one ephah of flour and a jug of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh, although the child was young. Then they slaughtered the bull, and brought the boy to Eli. She said, ‘Oh, my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the Lord. For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him. So I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord.’ And he worshiped the Lord there.”
1 Samuel 1:24-28

A popular expression is “Have you hugged your child today?” Certainly no one would argue with the need for parental affection, but hugging must be done in moderation. Perhaps more than any other trait, overprotectiveness by mothers of their children stands out. Children need love, but they also have an increasing need for independence, responsibility, and personal discipline.

While progressively letting go of our children can be traumatic, it is a vital step for the development of our offspring. Moses’ mother had to release her child before Moses could lead the Israelites of slavery. Hannah had to part with Samuel before he could become Israel’s judge.

Two principles can help the mother who loves her children passionately but who wants God’s best for them. Children are a gift, not a possession. Your sons or daughters are entrusted to you, not owned by you. When we let go of our children, we are giving them back to God. Neither Moses nor Samuel were abandoned; they were, by faith, placed in God’s hands.

Love your child deeply. But remember that possessive love is selfish, while God’s love is always giving and trusting.

“Behold, children are a gift of the Lord...” Psalm 127:3