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Concern and Care for Children |
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 "Taking care of children is probably the most important job there is, molding a little life and teaching it every day." |
David was affectionately known to his followers
as "Dad" or "Father David," and considered his flock his
"children," who he did his best to care for both physically and spiritually. Not
only was he "Dad" to the adult members of the Family, but he was
"Grandpa" to the next generation, the children of adult Family members. He was
very concerned about the care and education of this younger generation, and in a number of
Letters, he exhorted his followers to put the care of their children before their own
needs. He encouraged parents in the Family to consider each child as a priceless gift of
God, and that the raising of them "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4) was one of their most important
jobs. "To me, [children] are the most exciting little things in the whole world, and I love 'em and I love to be around them and surrounded by them and busy teaching and training them as I was with mine when they were small. "That's the most precious gift! -- God's greatest gift! -- His Love in a little child, so sweet and beautiful! They're treasures! More precious than gold or silver or jewels or pearls or diamonds or emeralds or any of those things. They're precious! "God is using you dear mothers to create an immortal soul! God has done it, but He's using you to do it. You're the tool, creating something that is going to last forever! "I think motherhood is just about the greatest calling in the world! -- Mothers of the next generation! They are the ones that are molding the future and making the world! The world of tomorrow is what the mothers of today make it, according to the way they raise their children. "So don't ever despise it or minimize it! Taking care of children is probably the most important job there is, molding a little life and teaching it every day." [125] |
