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“And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.” John 2:1-11
As mothers we are called upon to give ourselves to our families continuously. We care for their bodies in many different ways, through clothing, feeding and protecting them. We care for their minds in educating and training their ever growing brains. And, as Christians, we place a great priority on caring for their little souls. We labor to teach them the scriptures daily. We reprove their sins and seek to point them to God’s word. We seek to pour the gospel into them each and every day.
Do you ever feel discouraged and wonder if they are absorbing any of it? I know I do. We long for our children to catch the vision and embrace the truth. But, the fruit can sometimes seem so long in coming. During our morning time of family worship, where my little ones gather around me and I seek to teach them from His word, I feel the temptation to be cast down. I can be unburdening my heart with sorrow over sin, or bursting forth with joyous emotions over a beautiful portion in the word of God and I look up and see…blank stares. Then there are other times, when I see the light in their eyes and they pipe up with an application to something we are reading and I realize–there is fruit growing there.
You see, It is not my work at all. It is the Holy Spirit’s work. It is just as at the wedding in Cana. I am commanded to fill the water pots of my children’s hearts. I am commanded to do this with diligence and vigor…in faith. But only the divine hand of Jesus can turn the water into wine. He must come and miraculously touch their innermost hearts and plant the seed of grace within. Giving sight to the blind, making the crooked to be straight, lifting the veil that is on their hearts, opening their eyes to behold the beauty and glory of Christ Himself. But, the servants had to be willing in faith to obey Jesus’ command to fill the waterpots. They did not stand there and argue, nor did they grow weary in filling and filling and filling. They simply followed the Master’s instructions.
So I must daily continue to fill my children’s hearts with my Saviors truths, not growing weary, but in faith looking up. Let us pray for the Lord’s blessing upon our labors and watch and wait with patience, and in time, if He is pleased, may we see the sweet fruit of wine coming forth out of the innermost being of their hearts.