Polished

  For me at least, reading through the bible I always skipped over the section of Psalms. They usually sounded boring and didn't make much sense. But the other night I was reading a book called "For Times of Trouble" by Jeffrey R. Holland. He goes through a selection of the verses in Psalms and clarifies them, which is a great help to me! The one I found the most interesting during my reading last night was Psalm 144:12, "That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace". Holland says that,"This phrase from the Psalmist is one of the loveliest scriptural images we have regarding children...What could be inspiring than to think of our daughters as a corner stones of a palace".

    What if we thought of all women this way? Would we see them differently? I am flattered to be considered a "polished" jewel in the sight of God. Palaces are often exquisite, adorned with every beauty of craftsmanship, and home to the royal. What an honor. Women have been considered the heart of the home and a foundation for their families. 

    Men are also incredible! They love, serve and protect all that they hold dear. Parents have a great responsibility to raise their children into such men and women; they all want their children to be "safe, pure, strong and righteous" as Holland says. 

    I can only hope that when I have a family of my own, my husband and I can raise our sons to be as "plants grown up in their youth" and daughters who are "polished after the similitude of a palace", being the best they can be. Being responsible citizens, friends, family and children of God. 

"Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them." -Lady Bird Johnson

"Every child you encounter is a divine appointment." -Wess Stafford

"I continue to believe that if children are given the necessary tools to succeed, they will succeed beyond their wildest dreams!"  -David Vitter