Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. Psalm 127:3
Psalm 127 has always been one of my favorites. Maybe it’s because I have 4 children, (5 if you count the one in heaven), or maybe it’s because of the word, heritage which is one of my favorite words. No matter which, promises like this one are worth holding onto. I ponder the blessings of a full quiver and I have known them all. Giggles, laughter, warm snuggles, silly stories, and heart to heart conversations…the list goes on and on.

But what good are a warrior’s arrows if they stay in the quiver? Arrows are created to be launched. Otherwise they serve no purpose. Occasionally, a warrior with a full quiver may take out an arrow, string the bow and get ready but never release the shot. Maybe he was unsure of the target, or afraid to lose one of his prized arrows, but there is something that holds back his hand. I can relate to this warrior. If my children are arrows, I understand the hesitation in releasing the shaft.
There is an enemy. He is not flesh and blood. The evidence of his presence is visible here and around the world for anyone with eyes. The poverty, heartache, and human suffering are overwhelming and the cure seems a distant hope, like a mirage in the desert. It seems my arrow is too little to take down such a force, so why release it? Why not put it back in the quiver?
But what if no warrior ever releases an arrow? What would happen then? If there is no hope in the world then the enemy wins. The arrows push him back, and if there are enough of them being released, pockets of hope will spring up and spread like wildfire on the wind. Who am I to hold back the arrows? As I prayed this verse when my children were small I pictured sending them out into our own community, or one that was nearby. Never did I suspect that I would be required to catapult one of them half way around the globe. I was so willing when the target was within my reach. Now as my daughter prepares to be launched, I find the familiar hesitation in my stance as I hold the bow at the ready. It is an act of faith for me to let the string go. I will take my shot on July 4th…launch day for Hannah’s squad. I will release the string, she will fly and in so doing she will find her mark. The squads, all 4 of them that are launching, will be a frontal attack on the forces of darkness in the world. Please pray for all of these young men and women as they fly from the bow. The hand of the true warrior, the one who has called them, will fire his arrows to the ends of the Earth to spread hope to the nations. My only role is to release the string.