Children Are Who God Says They Are

It only takes a moment one careless word, one joke at a child’s expense to grieve a mother’s soul. And sometimes, that grief lingers longer than the laughter it was meant to inspire.

That moment came for me unexpectedly. I flippantly referenced one of my children’s fashion choices in a room full of adults. Laughter rippled through the group. But inside, I winced. Why did I say that? Why was I willing to offer my child’s dignity in exchange for a moment of social ease?

Because sometimes even we, as mothers, forget the truth about children.

The Names We Give Them

Too often, our words reflect not God’s view, but the world’s perception. We say “they’re wild,” “it’s chaos,” or “I’m just trying to survive.” While those expressions may feel relatable or even humorous, they often expose a deeper truth a disconnect between what God says about children and how we’re actually seeing them in that moment.

God doesn’t call children burdens. He calls them blessings. He doesn’t label them interruptions. He says they’re inheritance.

Psalm 127:3 declares, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.” These are not future titles, bestowed only once children reach maturity or make us proud. These are present truths. Right now, in the crying, climbing, messy, exhausting middle of motherhood our children are a heritage. They are our reward.

According to a Pew Research study, 68% of American adults say being a parent is one of the most important aspects of their identity. Yet, in the same survey, only 26% describe parenting as something “very rewarding all the time.” The tension is real we treasure our children, yet often fail to speak as though we do.

Arrows, Not Accidents

God says children are “like arrows in the hand of a warrior” (Psalm 127:4). Arrows are crafted deliberately. They’re stored in quivers, not forgotten in closets. And they are eventually aimed and launched with purpose and care.

To mother a child is to partner with God in shaping arrows for His kingdom. We’re not simply raising well-behaved kids; we’re preparing ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). Philippians 1:6 reminds us that “he who began a good work” in them “will bring it to completion.” Our role is to nurture, sharpen, and send and to trust the One who holds the bow.

But first, we must see them rightly. Before children can rest in our arms, they must rest in our hearts as treasures, not tasks.

Receiving Christ by Receiving Children

Jesus made a radical statement in Mark 9:37: “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.” To receive children is to receive Christ. And to demean children even in jest risks dismissing the Savior they reflect.

This is not about never venting or needing support in hard seasons. It’s about recalibrating our speech to reflect heaven’s honor code toward children. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Mothers speak life when we declare, even in chaos, my children are a blessing.

When we stop calling our children “too much” or “a handful” and start affirming their identity as image-bearers and gifts, we not only shift the atmosphere of our homes we testify to the world that the gospel reshapes how we see everything.

A Mother’s Body, a Child’s Sanctuary

In a culture that prizes autonomy and personal space, motherhood is an invitation to holy surrender. Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 2:8, “We were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves.” This is the sacred paradox of parenting: we give ourselves away bodies, sleep, time, and plans and in doing so, we discover joy.

From the toddler who climbs into your lap during devotions, to the teen who opens up long after bedtime, children ask for more than our provision. They ask for us. They don’t need perfect mothers; they need present ones. When we offer our bodies and lives joyfully, we mirror the sacrifice of Christ himself, who “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45).

And yes, children listen closely. They absorb what we say about them. A mother’s tone can shape a child’s self-worth more deeply than any correction or curriculum. Let your words be like Proverbs 16:24: “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul.”

Telling the Truth in a Culture of Complaint

While social media is quick to joke about the chaos of parenting, the Bible speaks in a different tongue. Scripture never calls children “crazy,” “wild,” or “a mess.” Instead, it calls them blessings, joy, reward, arrows, and models for our own faith.

When you speak of your children to friends, on the phone, in prayer, or in passing you wield power. Use it to affirm God’s truth. Say to the world, They are not chaos; they are Christ’s. They are not interruptions; they are inheritances.

That kind of speech changes things. It glorifies God, encourages fellow believers, and anchors our own hearts in truth. Proverbs 15:28 reminds us that “the heart of the righteous ponders how to answer.” Let us ponder well and speak life.

Preparing for the Quiet

One day, the toys will be gone. The house will be quiet. The interruptions that once tested our patience will be memories we long to relive. But we don’t need to wait for nostalgia to tell us our children were gifts. We can declare it now.

In a quiet moment, I’ll tell my child the story of what I said and ask for forgiveness. Not because they remembered, but because I did. I’ll tell them how God reminded me that they are not jokes or burdens or busyness. They are joy. They are reward. They are who God says they are.

And with that, I will declare:

I’m glad to give you my time. I’m glad to share my space, my quiet, my strength. I am honored to be your mother. You are a blessing. You are a reward. You are an inheritance. You are not who the world says you are. You are who God says you are.

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