Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer
Last week my summer squash showed me something about families.
As I moved aside platter-sized leaves to water the soil beneath them, bees hummed from flower to flower and several buds were growing into full-fledged squash. It was a busy place under that canopy. Protected by the arching green leaves, offspring sprouted, grew, and matured.
When I seeded those squash plants in early summer, I had to protect them from the sun’s oppressive heat, flooding rain storms, and voracious rodents and insects. It took a lot of care.
Now, the plants’ generous leaves hold moisture in the earth around them, spreading to create a protective covering and safe place for their ‘young.’
The squash family mirrors the human family.
As a former teacher, I have seen many children from loving homes with parents and grandparents who care for, provide for, and protect them.
But I’ve also taught young ones who are alone emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically, unsheltered from elements so brutal to children. Unless they find protection and nourishment, they don’t withstand the onslaught.
How many youngsters today are left in the heat to dry and scorch? How many of them don’t have family or guardians to teach them God’s ways? Without learning the truth, they are likely to believe whatever current culture tells them.
There is an enemy in our world and he is after our children. We would do well to strengthen ourselves in the Lord and spread the leaves of our covering so we can encourage our young people. May we assure them that God sees, hears, and loves them and has a purpose for their lives.
Your children will be
like vigorous young olive trees
as they sit around your table.
Psalm 128:3
Note: The white on my squash plants is flour with which I dust them to discourage grasshoppers.
Routine had helped ease the tension between Etta and Bern, and each Sunday they walked to church with Gracie between them, almost like a regular family. Some of the women had warmed toward Etta, and she credited Dottie Dalton with that improvement. Two mothers had even commissioned dresses for their daughters. Not Mrs. Prigg, of course.
The garden repaid her efforts tenfold, and she and Gracie filled their aprons each morning with fresh vegetables. Etta scoured the kitchen in search of canning supplies, and finally found a box stashed away in the barn. Another bit of Gracie’s mother hidden from view.
But the garden wasn’t the only thing sprouting up, and besides maintaining her household chores, Etta spent the evenings adding ruffles to the hems of Gracie’s dresses. In August, she made the growing girl a new dress for her tenth birthday and baked a vanilla cake with butter-cream frosting. Even their dog, Buster, got a piece in celebration. ~Mail-Order Misfire
Inspirational Western Romance – where the hero is heroic.
Connect with me via:
#lovingthecowboy
(c) 2025 Davalynn Spencer, all rights reserved.
#WesternRomance #ChristianFiction #FreeBook #HistoricalRomance #CowboyRomance
There certainly is a satanic force working on our children these days!
As parents we must realize this. God is a God of love and grace. Parents are admonished to bring up a child in the way he should go and when he is grown he will not depart from it.
Parents should be that Godly covering of protection, love and grace.
Good illustration!
Pray for those children that do not have that covering!
Amen. Thank you, Karen.