“Like arrows in the hands of a warrior, are the children of one’s youth.”
This biblical metaphor is likely a foreign thought to the modern world. It seems odd – possibly – to consider your children as a weapon.
In a decadent world, it seems like the battles are over. Regardless, children are the future of the world and they will build kingdoms and fight battles. Thus we have the old cliche: “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.”
Life is complex. It is full of joy. It is also full of battles. Sometimes literally, sometimes metaphorically. Nonetheless, it is a fair metaphor.
We use war language frequently to speak about poverty, sickness, drugs, etc. The question that we have to answer is this: if children are an arrow, who will sharpen them?
It is often bemoaned that we shouldn’t “indoctrinate” our children. A synonym for the word indoctrinate is “educate.”
My point is this, will your children be educated and sharpened into strong leaders, good mothers, hard workers and good citizens? When confronted with the wisdom of the age, will they know how to respond?
Children always become an arrow in someone’s quiver. You might say children who aren’t raised well just become dull arrows. There are times that I would say this appears true.
However, I do not believe that this is the best way to understand the reality of the world. I would like to suggest that we look at it in a different way.
Everyone has a quiver, but not everyone has arrows. Those that have arrows might have sharp arrows – formed for battle – or they might have dull sticks.
No matter what, those arrows will fly. The sharp arrow will accomplish that which it is sent out to do. It will defend you, protect you and bring you honor.
However, the dull arrow will bounce off of an enemy, who will then take the time to sharpen it before sending it flying back. That once dull stick will be used against you. Those are the choices.
While it is important for us to recognize the problems, it’s far more important that we find hopeful solutions. I believe that Conservatives – and specifically, Christians – fail because they have ideas without action. Liberalism fails due to action without wisdom. Leaving our children a world of hope begins by training them for the battles in life.
I don’t pretend to be neutral. God’s law is the only hope for justice in our world. God’s grace is the only source of forgiveness. Your children will either learn to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly, or they will learn the ways of the modern age. Whoever trains the children controls the future.
Children are a blessing. However, children are not an automatic blessing. In the same way that arrows do not sharpen themselves, children do not become sharp on their own. Our children are a living legacy and their legacy depends on their training.
Will we sharpen the arrows or will an enemy?
Jeremy Wiggins writes a bi-weekly column for The Graham Star. Email him at jeremywiggins87@gmail.com.