Planting seeds of faith

Years ago, my mother walked several blocks to Sunday school with her children following behind her. On the way, parents asked, "Mrs. Coleman, can my children go to church with you?" By the time we reached church our entourage included several neighborhood children.
In Sunday school, Bible stories of people of faith came alive as my mother taught us. We learned what God did for Old Testament saints who trusted him. Daniel was thrown in the lion's den, but God sent an angel to shut the lion's mouth so that it would not hurt him.
When sick Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, "Remember, O Lord, how I have always tried to be faithful to you and do what is pleasing in your sight," God heard his prayers and healed him. When a young lion attacked Samson, the Spirit of the Lord powerfully took control of him, and he ripped the lion's jaws apart with his bare hands. In her old age, Sarah laughed at the thought of having a child. But she came to realize that nothing was too hard for God.
Modern miracles
God did powerful things for those who believed, trusted and obeyed him. That amazed me. As a child, I thought those great things happened only in the Bible. I didn't understand that God has not changed and that he wants to do great and wonderful things in our lives as we believe, trust and obey him.
My siblings and I were reared by parents who loved and disciplined us as needed. My mother was a prayer warrior who kept us in her prayers. She not only taught and prayed for us, but she set a good example for us and was known for her good works. My father wasn't a church-going man, but he didn't stop Mother from taking us to church. We never witnessed violent or abusive behaviors between our parents. Their differences were settled behind closed doors.
Influence on children
Unfortunately, that is not true for many children today. They see and hear too much everywhere they go. They openly are exposed to things that would have shocked even the nonchurchgoers when I was a child.
In some homes, children hear God's name spoken only in a blasphemous way. Unlike the prodigal son who found himself in the hog pen of life, many kids are reared in the hog pen of life. All they know is garbage. Their lives are corrupted by ungodly sights and sounds. No one is lifting them up in prayer.
While our granddaughter, Shanell, was visiting this summer, she came down with pneumonia. As I sat on her bed and prayed for her, I thought about the time my mother flew to New York to touch and pray for a granddaughter who was sick to the point of death. My niece recovered. As the years passed, she learned to pray for others.
My granddaughter was burning with fever as I prayed. I didn't know whether she really heard me. The next day, a smile came on my face when I made her bed and found a little cross under her pillow.
Christian parents, grandparents and others can plant tiny seeds of faith in children to shape their lives and help them become all that God wants them to be.
XJoyce Davidson is a member of Friendship Baptist Church, Girard.