Planting Seeds of Faith in Young Hearts

By Lisa Janusa

How do we as parents of young children help faith to grow in their hearts? “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old, he will not depart from it” Proverbs 22:6. 

God wants parents to teach their children about all the wonders of being a child of God. Parents, as their first teachers, have a unique role to play. Children are open to receive seeds of faith from the people who love them the most. Your love helps prepare the soil. 

Like God’s love it should be gentle and nurturing and never overpowering. Slowly, with care and patience, the seeds of faith will grow and blossom. 

Realize that there will be times when you feel like you have failed, and the child is not responding or may even be resistant. Rely upon God and his covenant with the family (the domestic church) to help you persevere. “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they each will be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service, you are God’s field, God’s building” 1 Corinthians 3:6-9. 

Reading Holy Scripture to children out loud, especially bible stories, is a great way to capture their interest. Ask them some questions about the story or perhaps they will have questions for you. The Bible should be something that you have in the center of your home, and something they will learn is a source of grace, strength and comfort. 

I encourage parents to experience the joy of planting seeds of faith in their children’s hearts and reaping a great harvest in God’s kingdom!