Lover of Children

Titus 2:4 - Older women likewise are to.... love their children.

My husband's Aunt and family flew in for a visit on Saturday. We all headed to a family member's house for a family reunion.

One prevailing theme resinated as I left the reunion....... Aunt Florene loves children.

Aunt Florene is nearing 80 years old but continues to teach in the nursery at her church. The ages range from infant to 2 years old. She refused to just 'babysit' but insists on TEACHING these children God's Word. I do not personally know another  woman who is still teaching children at nearly 80 years old. Do you?

I've always had a high level of respect for my husband's Aunt. We've visited her home several times throughout the course of our marriage. She is a great down home cook. I best remember her for her homemade biscuits and pear honey, which was really more of a jam than honey.  Her home was very cozy and she always enjoyed making crafts, a  talent she acquired from her own Mother. She has always been a homemaker and never worked outside of the home. Her relationship with her husband was very traditional and biblical in the sense that she enjoyed cooking ... cleaning... ironing... and basically just serving him.

But, what stands out to me the most is her love for children.  We had a LOT of children at the family reunion.  Anytime a crying child would come in from playing outside she would gently go to them and try to bring them comfort. I knew she must be tired from her long flight yet she chose to serve rather than sit back and relax.  While everyone was eating dinner she sat on the couch and held her grandson so that her granddaughter could eat without wrangling a baby.

This is not a common character trait in our society. Children are not seen as a blessing (sometimes even in the church) but an inconvenience.  I've seen older women in church move from a certain pew so that they wouldn't have to sit next to children.

Ps. 127:3 - Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord; and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are the children of the youth. HAPPY is the man that hath his quiver full of them...

 Aunt Florene (in the red shirt) and her daughter.