Browsing through a bookstore a number of years ago, my eyes were drawn to a book title—Mommy Appleseed.1 The book came home with me and helped this new mother realize my important role in our children's spiritual development.
In the book, author Sally Leman Chall reminds readers of the story of the curious wilderness traveler, Johnny Appleseed, who crossed the Midwest, clearing land in order to plant the small brown apple seeds he carried with him in his pouch from his Massachusetts home. He had a vision for the future, and a determination to prepare orchards for the settlers who would head west. He toiled with determination—chopping, clearing, cultivating, and planting—as he wandered from place to place.
In the first chapter, I read Chall’s words of challenge to parents: “Just as Johnny buried his treasured apple seeds in the fertile heartland of a new nation in preparation for the harvest still many years in the future, so parents can plant seeds of faith in God deep in the hearts of their children. With God-empowered cultivation and nurture, those seeds can grow into full-flowered personal relationships with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, in God’s own and perfect time."
How do you plant seeds of faith in your children? Where do you start? First, a foundation must be laid in the parents’ lives.
1. Partner with God. Pastor Ray Stedman emphasized the importance of this first step when he stated, “We can't expect our children to be changed unless something has changed us. We can only communicate what we ourselves have discovered.” Discover God’s life-changing love for yourself and ask Him to guide you.
2. Decide on an absolute roadmap. Much like a recipe for chocolate chip cookies, or an automobile manufacturer’s handbook, the Bible instructs us how to operate our lives. By searching the Scriptures diligently, we will understand the path we are to follow. Have confidence in God's plan.
3. Establish priorities. Millions of American adults feel trapped by demands that do not reflect their personal priorities and preferences in life. Schedule family time first. “As workers for God our work is to begin with those nearest. It is to begin in our own home. There is no more important missionary field than this” (Child Guidance, 476).
4. Develop personal growth plans for mom and dad. Dr. John C. Maxwell once stated, “Any growth plan for your family must begin with you.” If married, encourage free time for your spouse to pursue a personal relationship with God.
5. Develop personal growth plans for your children. Begin with the end in sight. What do you hope for your children? What does a mature faith look like? Develop a family mission statement to help you establish your family’s spiritual heritage. Evaluate your children periodically. By taking time to evaluate, you will naturally know where to focus areas of instruction.
After a foundation has been laid, and growth plans have been sketched out, it is time to put your plans into action. God gives us a variety of methods and venues to use as we instruct our children: role modeling, family traditions, faith talks, music, memorization, prayer, nature activities, church events, service opportunities, spiritual retreats, and daily events that turn into teachable moments.
I believe teachable moments provide mothers with the most frequent opportunities to deposit seeds of faith in their children. Be on the lookout for teachable moments where you can insert God’s view into the questions that arise in your children’s lives.
It was a typical morning for me, the mother of preschoolers—typical yes, uneventful, no. My three-year-old son awoke long before I was ready, and bounded into my room to say “Good morning, Mommy!” as he smothered kisses on my closed eyelids. I knew the next words out of his mouth would be “I’m hungry, what’s for breakfast?” And so the day began.
At breakfast, the orange juice spilled—twice. With breakfast completed, I began my morning routine only to discover our new “house-trained” puppy had left a few “presents” for me to clean up. A cry of alarm from the bathroom announced the toilet water was nearing the top and ready to spill. Racing to the bathroom, I could see a roll of paper swirling in the basin. Next, the telephone rang and I knew I would spend the next half hour with a church member who wanted to send a message through me to my pastor-husband. Ending the call, I was ready to relax for a few quiet moments, but a wail coming from the basement erased that possibility.
I scooped up my tearful boy and placed him on the bathroom counter to examine his new “boo-boo.” As I tenderly swabbed his knee I was startled with his innocent inquiry. “Are you Jesus?” he asked, searching my face for an answer. How would I find the words for that question?
I often read stories to him that illustrated Jesus’ love and care for His children. But at that moment, I could sense my child wanted to understand more. He saw me demonstrating the love we had talked about so many times. And he was internalizing that love, connecting it to his friend, Jesus. This was a teachable moment—one that demonstrated what I had tried to tell him so often. After my silent prayer for help, he learned through this experience that if Jesus were in his heart, others would see Jesus through his actions. I had planted a seed in his heart to further develop his faith in Jesus.
Just as an apple seed is nourished beyond the view of the human eye, God has a way of working silently in the hearts of His children. Remember, no one can grow an apple tree overnight. So it is with children. It takes time—sometimes more time than we wish—for the unseen fruit to develop in their hearts.
Paul encourages us: “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
I encourage you to be a "Mommy Appleseed" in your child’s life. Then, watch how God develops the seeds you plant.
Diane Thurber is managing editor for the Lake Union Herald and a certified family life educator.
1Chall, Sally Leman, Mommy Appleseed: Planting Seeds of Faith in the Heart of Your Child, (Harvest House Publishers: 1993).
