Command 29 : Despise Not Little Ones | Day 203

Honor Little Ones!

One day a family asked a special guest to join them for dinner. As they sat around the table visiting, the topic of conversation shifted to art. The guest had a keen interest in art and was an expert evaluator of paintings. When the family told him that they had an old picture that they didn't know what to do with, the guest immediately asked if he could see it.

For several minutes, he carefully studied the details of the painting. Suddenly, he saw something that caused his eyes to grow wide with excitement. "Do you realize what this is?" he exclaimed to the family. "Just a picture," they replied. "No," said the guest, "it is not just a picture. It bears the name of one of the most famous painters in history! It is a priceless treasure!"

Many families view a new baby as "just another child" until they recognize the One Who designed and created that child.

One of the most effective ways to avoid despising little ones is to start honoring them for who they really are. “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward" (Psalm 127:3). In this verse, the Hebrew word for heritage is nachalah, which means "inheritance (i.e., a possession to which one has received the legal claim)." This word is also used in Deuteronomy 26:1 in reference to the Promised Land that God gave to Israel.

The first way to honor a little one is to thank God for creating him or her in the womb; then, anticipate his or her arrival with rejoicing. This is important because unborn babies are able to discern when their parents do not want them, and their actions later in life can be a response to this feeling of rejection.

Another way to honor a child is by giving him or her a meaningful name. Names hold great importance. Many times God changed a person's name to reflect the vision that He had for the individual's life. For example, God told Abram, “Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee” (Genesis 17:5).

The character and achievements that parents want for their children should be expressed in the names they choose.

We all tend to live up to the meanings of our names. I can still recall with vivid detail a scene that occurred decades ago behind a neighborhood shoe store. I was getting ready to fight with the store owner's son, when suddenly I remembered the meaning of my name. William means "protector." I struggled to justify the fight as a protector. Realizing that I would be the offender, I decided to call off the fight.

In your journal for this week, write out the names of each of your children or family members, along with the spiritual meanings of their names. Then, list the ways that you have honored or will honor children as the heritage of the Lord.