In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he chastises his followers for their jealousy and rivalry as evidenced in their arguing amongst themselves about being his follower or Apollo’s follower. He goes on to point out that he and Apollo were just instruments, using the analogy of one planting and one watering, but only God could cause the growth of their faith. I think this applies for parents also. We plant the seed of faith within our children through Baptism and the other sacraments. We water and nourish that seed through education in the faith, taking them to church regularly and our example of trying to live a good life and cherishing our faith. But I know there are many other parents, like my husband and myself, who have adult children who no longer go to Church. The seed is there in those adult children as evidenced in our case by the fact that they are making the sacrifices to educate their children in the faith through CCD or Catholic schools. Since they are adults, our “watering” is more indirect now such as praying always for them and the grandchildren, giving them gifts that reflect the faith with which they were raised, and praying some more. |
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