Genesis 8: Parents

Hope After the Storm

Genesis 8:11 (New Living Translation)
"When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth."

When our family lived in Michigan, we endured long winters, and my kids longed for spring to come. I remember how excited my kids would get when they would spot a single, resilient flower, blooming defiantly through the snow. This small symbol of hope restored joy to their little hearts. Summer is coming!

This reminds us of the olive leaf in Genesis 8:11. After the storm, when the waters were yet to recede fully, the olive leaf represented a beacon of hope and reassurance of God's promise to Noah. 

As parents, we can teach our children to recognize God's reassurances in their own lives. After the storms, big or small, guide them to look for their 'olive leaf' - signs of God's enduring love and faithfulness.

Maybe it's a friend's comforting words after a hard day, or a random act of kindness when they're feeling down. Highlight these as reminders of God's presence and His care for them. When they learn to look for these symbols of hope, they'll be more resilient amidst life's storms, knowing that God's promises stand firm, and He is always there, leading them to calmer waters.