Like ArrowsSýnishorn

Quiver Full

I remember the first time I shot an arrow. After a very brief lesson, I stood at the line, pointed my arrow at the target, pulled back firmly, and fired. I would love to say that I hit the bullseye on the first try. Actually, I would love to say that my arrow hit anything. Much to my embarrassment, my arrow flopped off my bow, tumbled briefly through the air, skirted along the ground, and stopped a few feet away. My second arrow didn’t fare much better.

After about 30 minutes of frustrating practice, I managed to get my arrow to fly in an awkward sideways trajectory and barely stick into the wooden frame holding the target. Clearly, this would take some effort to master.

When the psalmist compares children to arrows in the hands of a warrior, he evokes images of strength and power. He makes us feel as though we are in a battle and that our children can help us win.  

But there are other ways that children are like arrows. An arrow must be carefully crafted, well balanced, and straight. The archer must see the target clearly. He must apply the proper tension on the string, making constant adjustments for wind and distance. And, when the moment is right, he must properly release the arrow to fly.

As parents, we must work to shape and form our children’s character and values. We must discipline them and make constant adjustments to our approach in response to our environment and various headwinds.  

The problem is, most of us get even less training in parenting than I did at archery. The doctor hands us our child, gives some basic instructions, and before we know it we’re on our own, making mistake after mistake.

Over the course of the next 18 years, we stand at the firing line, tensioning the string and aiming, all in anticipation of the eventual release.

But unlike archery, we only get one shot.

If we pull too tightly, our children might soar right past the target. Pull too loosely, and they might fail to fly at all. To do it right, we need training.  

Thankfully, God has provided everything we need in His Word. Will you join us?

In our next session, we will talk about focusing on the target.

Pray: Lord, thank You for trusting me with such an amazing responsibility. I want to launch my children well, but I confess that I often don’t know what I’m doing. Please speak to me over these next eight days. Give me the humility to admit my mistakes, the courage to learn new ways, and the strength to submit to Your will. Help me to be the parent that my children need. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

*This reading plan was inspired by the principles highlighted in FamilyLife’s Art of Parenting.