Chrysostom
Humble Servant of All
Your faith cries out like that of the Canaanite woman, and her daughter was healed because of it. Christ said to her, "Great is your faith; be it unto you even as you desire." So do not cease to bring your children before Him, for a mother's faith contributes mightily to the healing of her household. Be of good cheer, therefore, and hear Him call you daughter, for your faith has made you His child.
But understand that true children are not merely offspring of the flesh but children of the promise, born after the manner of Isaac by the power of God's word. Pray that each one may be born from above, and the Spirit bears witness with your spirit that you are children of God and heirs indeed. What room is left for doubt when heaven itself testifies?
Let your home be a small church. You who pray for order and unity, remember that one who rules his own house well with gravity and has his children in subjection proves fit to care for greater things. Seek that peace which comes when a household walks in wisdom and mutual respect; do not grow weary in building it up.
For your older daughter, know that God's delay in judgment is lovingkindness, allowing time for repentance and the washing away of transgressions. She is not beyond the reach of mercy. For your son, trust that the same Lord who calmed fears and infirmities can pour out healing and peace. And for your younger daughter, the Spirit will guide her steps into the future, for He tells us things to come so that we are not taken unaware.
You fear for their protection, and rightly so, for the Lord sometimes visits men with temporal trials to turn them from careless ways. Yet His mercy is upon those who hope in Him, especially upon those who, like teachers in the faith, labor for the souls of others. Continue to invoke that mercy over your children, for they stand in need of it daily.
Let your cry remain, "Abba, Father," and neither weapon nor fear shall prosper, for if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ.
But understand that true children are not merely offspring of the flesh but children of the promise, born after the manner of Isaac by the power of God's word. Pray that each one may be born from above, and the Spirit bears witness with your spirit that you are children of God and heirs indeed. What room is left for doubt when heaven itself testifies?
Let your home be a small church. You who pray for order and unity, remember that one who rules his own house well with gravity and has his children in subjection proves fit to care for greater things. Seek that peace which comes when a household walks in wisdom and mutual respect; do not grow weary in building it up.
For your older daughter, know that God's delay in judgment is lovingkindness, allowing time for repentance and the washing away of transgressions. She is not beyond the reach of mercy. For your son, trust that the same Lord who calmed fears and infirmities can pour out healing and peace. And for your younger daughter, the Spirit will guide her steps into the future, for He tells us things to come so that we are not taken unaware.
You fear for their protection, and rightly so, for the Lord sometimes visits men with temporal trials to turn them from careless ways. Yet His mercy is upon those who hope in Him, especially upon those who, like teachers in the faith, labor for the souls of others. Continue to invoke that mercy over your children, for they stand in need of it daily.
Let your cry remain, "Abba, Father," and neither weapon nor fear shall prosper, for if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ.
