Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.”
NL Daily Devotion for Tuesday, January 18, 2022
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Oh, the patriarchy! Sigh. When this was written, property belonged to men and was passed down through men. Having sons wasn’t just nice, it was an imperative. So much so that a woman’s entire value was based on her ability to produce male offspring. And if you had sons to carry on your family name? Well, that was everything. After all, God’s first promise to Abram was descendants too numerous to be counted, via a son of his old age.
If we can strip away the patriarchy, is there a word of blessing to be found for us in this text? You bet. Children are awesome. And not because of what they do for you (carrying on the family name or some other idea of immortality via genetics). Children are awesome because of what we are called to do for them. Our God is a mothering God, caring and nurturing all of creation to its flourishing. If we choose to have children or work with children, we are called into this same selfless parenting which can teach us so much about compassion, patience, and service. In turn, those qualities can affect the way we respond to others, and actually make us more loving people. And that is its own reward.
How have my interactions with the children in my life changed me?